Almost all demolition and construction waste generated in the construction of Boola Katatjin – one of Australia’s most awarded projects in recent years – has been recycled and, in many instances, upcycled, according to Murdoch University. Crowned the world’s best academic building last year, and at its construction, the 180m Boola Katatjin was the Southern Hemisphere’s largest mass timber building.
Following the massive build, which used more than 2,100 tonnes of timber and 1800 individual pieces of mass timber, the university appointed local business Instant Management Bayswater, which sorted through vast volumes of materials that could be recycled and repurposed.
Timber Construct understands that construction waste makes up the largest share of Western Australian landfills, with students at Murdoch University’s Environmental and Sustainable Systems Engineering programme observing the process firsthand and on a massive scale. According to Associate Professor Dr Martin Anda, the plant tour allowed students to witness how construction waste can be sorted and recovered to be reused for future building materials:
“They have been learning the principles behind recycling and the circular economy so they can design their plant for upcycling construction and other wastes into low-carbon concrete,” Dr Anda said.
Murdoch University vows to become fully circular by 2030
Published in 2023, Murdoch University’s 2023-2030 strategy is part of a new push to make its campus developments fully carbon neutral and zero waste in landfills by 2030. “To do so, we must be compassionate to our surroundings and continue to develop the social, environmental and technical competencies required to embrace a circular economy,” said Dr Anda, adding that Boola Katatjin provides a case study around that process.
“(It is) a case study of cultural engagement, sustainable design and the exploration of materials central to improving our building environments.”
Australia’s largest glulam timber beams installed by volume
Designed by Carey Lyons from Aspect Studios and supported by Perth-based Trent Woods, Officer Woods, and local design firms Fulcrum Agency and Silver Thomas Hanley, the $135m building – which won the 2023 Australian Timber Design Awards ‘People’s Choice’ and Engineered Wood prizes – was developed to give the 50-year-old campus a new heart. Built by Multiplex, the project connects more than a thousand mass timber elements like a giant puzzle:
“It’s a bit like a giant Meccano set or puzzle, with glue-laminated pieces of timber of all different lengths and shapes manufactured offsite before being fitted into place on-site.”Chris Palandri, Multiplex Regional Director responsible for the project.
“Some of the glue-laminated timber beams used within the Northern Plaza are the largest ever installed in Australia by volume – at 7,282 kilograms each, extending 26 metres in length.”
Applications for this year’s Australian Timber Design Awards close July 11!
Last month, Timber Construct revealed that the host of Grand Designs Australia will be one of five judges for this year’s Australian Timber Design Awards. Now it’s 26th year, Anthony Burke – a Professor of Architecture and Course Director for the UTS Master of Architecture course, will join James Fitzpatrick – Interior Design Lead at fitzpatrick + partners, Meryl Hare – Managing Director at the award-winning interior design practice Hare & Klein and Nick Hewson – Structural Engineer and Director of Arboralis – in wrangling through this year’s entries.
Click here to enter this year’s awards
That is according to Andrew Dunn, the long-time organiser, who confirmed that entries for this year’s awards have been extended to July 11, 2025. Dunn said that the awards always attract a wide variety of entries, including Boola Katatjin, one of the most popular timber projects ever entered into the awards: “In total, more than 1800 individual pieces of glulam were connected using a simple bolt and pin connection system, which allows for easy disassembly,” Dunn said, making it not only one of the best designed buildings anywhere in the world but also one of the best engineered buildings as well.