Building design

Designed by Australian architectural firm FJMT, the state-of-the-art glass-encased UTS Central is made up of a striking dual design, with a 10-level twisted tower sitting above a 5-level podium and two underground floors. The iconic building features a number of unique design features.

Curved exterior and twisted tower

The UTS Central design is notable for its elegant, curved lines, which provide a complementary contrast to the modular, utilitarian design of the Brutalist UTS Tower. The upper levels have been designed with a distinctive ‘twist’. The building design means that no two floor plans are the same. 

Glass façade

Two separate subcontractors with specialist expertise are producing and installing the striking glass façade. Australian company G James is completing the podium façade, which includes approximately 1100 panels made from 40 different glass types. The largest piece of glass measures 6m by 2.3m and weighs around 700kg. International façade engineering company Permasteelisa Group is completing the tower closed cavity façade. The company has worked on many renowned international projects, producing the titanium cladding on the Guggenheim in Bilbao and the glass Curtain Wall on the harbour side of the Sydney Opera House sails. 

Double helix staircase

An intertwining double helix staircase made from Australian steel and curved glass connects levels 4 to 7. The double ribbon spiral design originated with architects FJMT and is inspired by the double helix structure of a DNA molecule.  It is not only an impressive design feature, but also a reminder of how breakthroughs in science and technology have transformed our world. The double helix is one of three ‘architectural’ stairways in the building, which link the main student spaces in the lower floors of the building, inviting movement and connection, and reducing reliance on the lifts and escalators.

Innovative sun shading

Bespoke sun shading systems control solar penetration, regulating light and internal temperatures. Geometric panels on the building’s northern façade are programmed to respond to the azimuth of the sun across the calendar year. Adjustable louvre blinds encapsulated within the façade of the upper levels give the building its distinctive white veneer.