Getting to know Building 11
September 2014
Our brand new Engineering and IT Building has been open for over a month and many staff and students from across the University have now had an opportunity to explore the new teaching and public areas.
Just last week, FEIT hosted the Behind the Screens ‘open house’ event, with hundreds of staff, students and the general public taking the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art facilities for themselves.
However, it is still very much a new building and it will take some time for FEIT and non-FEIT staff and students to become well acquainted with all the facilities and general building operations.
Remember, too, that this is a new building and teething problems – such as issues with air-conditioning – are to be expected. We appreciate everyone’s patience as these issues are addressed.
To help everyone get to know Building 11 that little bit better, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions below. More information about the building can be found on Staff Connect.
Everyone is encouraged to explore the new FEIT Building
Your questions answered:
Can I access all floors by the stairs?
The only floor that cannot be accessed by stairs is level 6 (the first floor of faculty offices), if accessing it from level 5.
Stairs can be used to access all other areas, at all times, and everyone is encouraged to use the stairs (and escalators) that bridge the atrium. In fact, it is the fastest and most convenient way of moving around over a small number of floors and will also free up the lifts for those who need them most.
Why don’t all lifts go to all floors?
There are seven lifts located on the Jones St side of the building. The lifts have been programmed in a certain way, with not all lifts accessing all floors, to improve overall lift service.
They are programmed as follows:
- Lifts 1 & 2: Lower B4 to L3 only
- Lift 3: All floors (from Lower B4 through to L13 plant room)
- Lifts 4-7: L00 to L12
A few things to note about the numbering of floors in the lifts:
- ‘-4’ = Lower B4
- ‘G’ = L00 (ground floor entrance from Wattle Street)
- ‘2’ = ground floor entrance from Jones St (laid out the same as CB10)
How are rooms numbered in Building 11?
Building 11 follows the UTS Building and Room and Identification Standard, where CB11.03.300 stands for Building 11 (City Building), level 3, room 300.
In Building 11, room numbers (eg. ‘300’) indicate their location on each floor. For example:
- 100s – Jones St side
- 200s – Broadway side
- 300s – Wattle St side
- 400s – Building 10 side
Understanding this pattern should make finding rooms a lot easier. There is also new wayfinding throughout the building to help you navigate your way around.
What informal student areas are available and are they available to all students?
There are a number of different student spaces across the building. Importantly, the majority of informal study and social spaces are within public areas, meaning they are accessible to any student at UTS.
Some of the main areas are:
| NAME | LOCATION | ACCESS |
| Learning Commons | Level 00 | All students |
| Informal student lounges | Level B1 (with bookable meeting pods) Level 00 (near Wattle St entrance) Levels 3, 4 & 5: lounges can be found around the atrium on each level. Separate informal areas can be found on Broadway-side of building on each level | All students (bookable pods can be booked through library or on small screen outside the pod) |
| General Access Computing | Level B1: FEIT computer labs (24/7 access) Level 00 (within Learning Commons) Level 1 (outside Penny Lane) Level 1: 2 x GAC labs Levels 6-11: specialist computer labs | FEIT students only All students All students All students FEIT students enrolled in particular subjects online |
| Learning Precinct | Level 5 | FEIT students only |
| Penny Lane Cafe | Level 1 (includes bookable meeting space with LCD screen) | All students |
How does the new card reader system work?
Rooms in Building 11, including back-of-house office areas and most teaching spaces, are now accessed using the new UTS staff cards. To enter a room, simply place your staff card against the card reader located next to the door. Note: the entire card must be flush with the reader. Watch this video for more detailed instructions.
The cards have been pre-programmed to ensure staff and students can access relevant areas (and those who don’t need access, can’t!)
Here is a summary of what can be accessed and when:
Building entrances:
Jones St entrance (general access):
Mondays-Fridays: 6am-10pm
Saturdays: 7.30am – 6pm
Wattle St entrance (general access):
Mondays-Fridays: 8am-8pm
Classrooms:
General teaching spaces (general access):
Mondays-Fridays: 7am-9.30pm
Saturdays: 8am-6pm
FEIT spaces (office areas, labs and computer labs)
Individual cards have been configured so only FEIT staff and students have access to these spaces
Accessible by staff card only at all times
Outside the times listed above, staff cards are required to access the building and GTS. Non-FEIT staff requiring access should contact Security on x1192.
How do I get from Building 11 to Building 10?
Building 11 and Building 10 are connected via a series of bridge links on levels 3-7 on the western (Wattle St) side and 4-7 on the eastern (Jones St) side of the buildings.
There is also a link between the two buildings at ground level, including through the new Penny Lane café and from within the car park.
