Woodside Tech Building

The building is highly innovative in its approach to collaborative, technology-driven and flexible learning spaces, its construction methods and building services. In terms of sustainability, it is considered to be one of the largest certified Education Passivehaus buildings in the world. Large central skylights and a 50:50 window-to-wall ratio to manage heat from the sun, whilst 100% of the building’s electricity is generated from solar panels. Those solar panels connect directly into Monash University’s broader smart grid. In addition, the builder Lendlease used local labour and materials as much as possible, which reduced the amount of energy used in construction. These elements, among others,  are integral to achieving  Monash’s vision for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. They also contributed to the judges awarding the building the  Sustainable Architecture Award. Photography by Watson Commercial