The call for this open national competition arises from the need to expand the facilities of the Faculty of Science at the University of Austral of Chile, after recovering and rebuilding the original building that was damaged and reconstructed in 2011, which is previously described in this document.
The new building is conceived as an element that interacts with the existing structures on the campus and with the distinctive landscape features of the surrounding geographical environment.
The proposed volume is thin and flat, resembling a screen that recedes from the main street of the campus, freeing the corner that marks the university’s entrance. This empty space generously connects both with the Central Library building, which faces it, and with the lush trees located at the northwest corner of the site. The void created at the entrance, framed by the library and the new building, constitutes the head of Avenida Rector Dr. Eduardo Morales Miranda, which serves as the organizing axis for the most emblematic buildings on the campus.
The building’s expression is synthetic, austere, and devoid of ornamentation or formal gadgets. It is a building whose form results directly from its function, and its neutral expression is designed to endure the passage of time. The access level is differentiated by a more transparent floor that reveals the interior and relates to the public spaces of the campus on both sides. The rest of the façades are clad with regular black steel sunshades, which provide both a monolithic appearance in perspective and transparency from within.
Functionality and Knowledge Transmission
Buildings where knowledge is developed must be efficient and functional, but they must also provide generous common spaces for circulation and interaction. The exchange of knowledge does not only occur within classrooms and laboratories but also frequently in informal encounters where spontaneous idea exchange takes place. Therefore, the building’s structural core is not only the connecting element for vertical circulation but also deliberately generates spatial retreats and releases of double, triple, and even quadruple heights, corresponding to the uses of each institute.
The central circulation core is illuminated from above, and thanks to its electro-forged grid floors, it allows natural light to reach all levels, while also enabling induced natural ventilation. The laboratory partitions are made of glass to maximize the flow of natural light.
Natural Light and ventilation
Natural light is a priority in the building’s design, with all offices located on the south façade and all laboratories placed on the north façade. Solar radiation on the north façade is controlled by increased opacity and special low-emissivity glazing. The airspace above the office and laboratory levels serves a dual purpose: it accommodates visible networks and installations, and it also creates a cross-flow of air that moves transversely through the building along its shorter side. During colder months, the ventilation hatches remain closed to accumulate heat within the building.
Project: Faculty of Science II Competition, University of Austral of Chile
Client: University of Austral of Chile
Award: First Mention
Architect: Albert Tidy
Collaborators: Sebastián Cruz, Cristóbal Riffo, Ken Yan Qiu Sun
Materials: Reinforced Concrete, Steel, and Glass
Year: 2013