Australian Catholic University Mercy Building | ThomsonAdsett

ThomsonAdsett designed the new Mercy Building for Australian Catholic University (ACU). The project presented a unique opportunity to create a community landmark showcasing the attributes of the Brisbane campus to the ACU community.

The design creates a series of innovative learning environments for students and staff that embrace ACU’s culture and ethos. ThomsonAdsett drew inspiration from advancements in teaching and learning, workplace needs and the unique qualities of the immediate and wider site. Values such as unity, a strong Catholic ethos and character, wholeness and humanity have formed a vision of ‘Innovation in Learning’ for this project.

The design was informed by a collaborative human-centred consultation process, inclusive of stakeholder workshops and various user group meetings with staff, students and executives. The workshops uncovered belonging, connection to community and self-expression as key factors to consider when designing the Mercy Building.

The building engages with its surrounding context by sensitively connecting to existing buildings, and also by the heritage characteristics and the panoramas of the broader site.

ThomsonAdsett collaborated with library expert Janine Schmidt to ensure that the design not only delivered on the client's functional and performance requirements, but that these were tested against international best practice.

The project sought to achieve equal or better outcomes relative to the University’s established benchmarks improving energy and water efficiency by 7% by 2020. First quarter data shows that these targets are being achieved. The exterior design of the building coupled with smart, sustainable integrated services enables this efficiency even with a large proportion of the building facing west.