BESIX Watpac completed the innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) precinct at the Brisbane Grammar School at the end of 2023. On March 2nd, the school community came together for a grand celebration, marking the inauguration of this progressive facility.
Forward-thinking
Constructed by BESIX Watpac, the STEAM building was finalised in late 2023, perfectly timed for the commencement of the 2024 academic year. Designed to nurture creativity and collaboration across disciplines, the precinct aims to equip students with skills essential for the future job market.
The multi-story structure offers students immersive environments for exploration and innovation, featuring 15 co-laboratories, 14 general learning areas, five design studios, art studios, and a 300-seat open auditorium.
Delicate installation of innovative learning pods
Despite facing challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the BESIX Watpac project team demonstrated resilience and adaptability, delivering an exceptional facility. At the heart of the building lies an expansive atrium, featuring three distinctive learning pods spanning multiple levels.
To ensure the safe and efficient installation of the learning pods, meticulous planning was undertaken. Seven structural rings were employed to create these pods, lifted into place over a two-week period using a specialized dual-lift system. Collaboration with engineering partners and suppliers was pivotal in achieving this feat.
The pods are suspended from the roof structure using precision-engineered hangers. Each pod ring contains approximately five cubic meters of concrete and is finished with either full-height glazing or stainless-steel mesh and balustrade.
BESIX Watpac is proud of the project team’s focus on delivering a facility that adheres to the highest standards of quality, which has left a positive legacy for the school’s students who will be able to enjoy the very best there is to offer when it comes to STEM education.
In the video below, you can see the Brisbane Grammar School - STEAM project in images, and traditional land owners during the Smoking Ceremony, the traditional ceremony where indigenous people purge the construction site at the start of the works.
