Curtin University’s New Engineering Complex opened by Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The Curtin University Engineering Pavilion building has been officially opened on the 31st March 2011, by the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard.

The $9 Million Engineering Pavilion was designed by Taylor Robinson Architects, a CEFPI WA group member. It is a multipurpose facility situated centrally to the surrounding engineering faculty buildings, becoming the symbolic gateway and heart to the engineering community. Featuring a three-level volume exhibition space and interactive learning environments. The learner is placed at the centre of an educational experience with self development, peer learning and social interaction its driving forces. 

Curtin University’s Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket said that the University was committed to the creation of a world-class centre for undergraduate education and research which aims to showcase undergraduate work and brings together industry representatives, researchers and students. Curtin University are also CEFPI WA members. 

"By bringing together industry representatives, educators, researchers and students, the Pavilion will create a link between WA’s engineering community and Curtin, and help to foster innovation and collaboration.” Professor Hacket said.

This is the University’s first building designed to best practice energy efficiency benchmarked to the Green Star Rating tool, targeting a five-star ‘as designed’ rating. The environmental design initiatives have been developed as hands-on learning tools for Curtin’s engineering students. The facility demonstrates the faculty’s various engineering disciplines and generates an interest in the expression of structural form.

The Prime Minster commented that the Pavilion project is an important new development in the training of engineering students.

"They want to give young people an opportunity, they want to give young engineers a start and through this new facility Curtin University will be able to better train and better skill its young engineers."

The Building forms Stage 1 of the joint Federal Government and University investment, with Stage 2 being a four storey research and teaching accommodation for the Engineering Faculty due to begin May 2011.