The project responds to Griffith University research that shows significant additional carparking is going to be required as the Gold Coast Campus continues to grow. The location provides pedestrian access to the main campus while not increasing vehicle traffic on the already congested University Drive.
The project brief (a Design and Construct Tender) called for:
• Disturb as little of the vegetated site as possible;
• Provide at least 1000 cars with the ability to later increase the height by 2 storeys;
• Allow for both permanent cardholders and casual users;
• Be as economical as possible;
• Be finished as quickly as possible.
The solution addresses and the street frontage with clearly signed vehicle and pedestrian entries located to best utilise the existing site gradients. Driveway gradients have been kept gentle and driveways open and well lit to assist inexperienced drivers often recently arrived on the Gold Coast.
All decisions throughout the project were subjected to rigorous financial & time impact review. Layouts, structural systems, entry ramps, extent of site disturbance and the final façade were all revisited a number of times to maximise efficiencies.
The final solution provides more car spaces than the brief while still allowing the inclusion of a large solar array (approximately 200 panels) on the roof and a wind turbine on the top level.
The colour palette for the façade system is based on the Griffith University masterplan with some additions to reflect the more isolated location of the carpark.
Griffith University has subsequently utilised the façade system for existing carpark structures on the main campus.
