The University of Queensland Physiol Refectory

Design and construction of a new food refectory at the University’s St Lucia campus, constructed within the confines of the underside of an existing lecture theatre building.

The project involved the demolition of the existing Physiol Café and the design, documentation and construction of a new food court and retail style space. It included new bathroom facilities, a parent’s room, indoor and outdoor dining and an elevator from the chemistry forecourt up to the new food court. Extensive upgrades to the services were also completed to enable the new tenants to fit out their areas.

The project’s stand out feature is the large glulam timber beams and columns. The timber is lighter than a steel structure, offers a warm feel to the space, enables large clear spans and are all single lengths with hidden fixings at the column to beam joint, ensuring a seamless appearance. 22m3 of Radiata pine was produced for the project, resulting in the removal of 12,100kg of C02 from the atmosphere.

Being on a live university campus, there are always challenges with noise and access. This particular project’s location is between two larger buildings with limited access. The solution for the installation of all timber and structural steel was by use of a crane located some distance from the workfront.

In the completion phase of the project, Buildcorp coordinated 7x F&B tenancy fitouts, ensuring consolidated handover of the entire space. Overall the project was well received on the campus, offering an additional food court for staff and students and delivered on time and budget.