Neuroscience Research Australia NeuRA
Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) is an independent, not-for-profit research institute. Its research work is focused on the human brain. This project is stage 1 of a planned neurological research precinct within the Randwick education/health district. The NeuRA precinct is to be delivered in 4 stages, accommodating 700 researchers.
The design intent for the stage 1 building includes:
Creating an enduring and memorable identity and image for the research organisation – one that not only gives it presence on barker street, but more critically gives it a distinct identity within the international research community; Creating rational and flexible research floorplates which afford maximum social exchange and research collaboration; Addressing the client’s brief for the architecture to be “freely poetic and expressive – as opposed to the ‘reductively’ rational”
The stage 1 building includes shared facilities to the total future precinct as well as open, transparent, shared research environments where researchers are clustered in flexible cohorts of 6-10. A ‘serrated or chevron skin’ solution addresses the urban design, technical (reflectivity, solar penetration and geometric) issues on the south and east elevations, while at the same time facilitating a memorable image for NeuRA – addressing their principle brief requirement.
Project Info
Architects: Cox Architecture
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Client: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Project Status: Completed
Key Consultants: AECOM (Davis Langdon), WT Partnership, Taylor Thomson Whitting, Shelmerdines, AJ Whipps, PKA Acoustic Consulting, Tract, Cundall, Access Associates, Windtech, VOS
Cox Team: Joe Agius, Mark Davey
Contractor / Builder: Richard Crookes Constructions
Cost: $40,000,000
Gross Floor Area: 13,000m2
Year: 2013
Type: Research Center
