Creation of Smart Green Infrastructure, for university community

‘Shade-amenity’ & ‘green’ canopy, a critical element of any urban centre in Queensland, is afforded priority within The Mill, ensuring healthy, thriving canopy trees, now and for future generations.

University of the Sunshine Coast has been enabled by providing optimum growing conditions for trees - provision of 1.2 km of continuous soil trenches (utilizing modular soil cells - Citygreen's Stratavault) and 1.2 km of continuous planting beds. Soil cells are also incorporated within street tree bioretention pits.

The competing demands of ‘above-ground’ amenity versus ‘below-ground’ infrastructure were ever present throughout the design process, and more so due to the proliferation of services in this primary urban centre, which included smart city and region-wide infrastructure. A collaborative & iterative process, in particular with the principal consultant & civil engineer, Advisian, enabled the collective requirements for ‘amenity’ and ‘servicing’ to be met.

The key to delivering this outcome was early-engagement/agreement about the importance of creating 'amenity value', and construction budgets to achieve the same.

As the first stage of the new development, it was imperative that the design set the benchmark while being flexible in its function to provide for new users, a growing regional community and evolving values and technologies.

Stage 1 is part of the broader 460 hectare Priority Development Area, encompassing the former paper mill, suburbs of Petrie, Kallangur and Lawnton, and anchored by Moreton Bay region’s first university campus - University of Sunshine Coast. Other expected uses include commercial, civic buildings, residential development, public parklands, sporting facilities and a substantial environmental zone.

Source of content: Written by Nader Ibrahim, Director at O2LA