Summary: The centrepiece of RMIT University’s $700 million capital investment program, the Swanston Academic Building, is today being officially launched by RMIT alumnus Jacques Nasser AO, Chairman of BHP Billiton. The Swanston Academic Building (SAB), a 35,000 square metre, 11-storey educational facility, contains innovative lecture theatres, classrooms and specialist spaces that support the most advanced teaching and learning methodologies. RMIT's Swanston Academic Building. Photo: John Gollings. Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said the SAB was the largest construction project that RMIT had undertaken. "This building incorporates world class teaching facilities and vibrant spaces for students and staff in the heart of RMIT’s city campus." Mr Nasser is one of the University’s most prominent alumni, as well as being a generous scholarship donor. He began his illustrious career studying business at RMIT. He received an honorary degree from RMIT in 1997. "His scholarship program at RMIT rewards excellence and has been instrumental in fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in our College of Business students," Professor Gardner said. The $200-million SAB has more than 80 teaching spaces, including lecture theatres, a cinema classroom, project and interactive spaces using state-of-the-art technologies and incorporating the largest virtual desktop initiative in Australia. Designed by Lyons Architects - led by RMIT architecture alumnus Carey Lyon - and constructed by Brookfield Multiplex, the SAB has a Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) 5-star Green Star Education Rating, signifying Australian Excellence in environmentally sustainable design. To achieve this, the building has a number of water-efficient and energy-efficient features including displacement ventilation in lecture theatres, mixed-mode ventilation in portals and chilled beams in offices, solar pre-heated domestic hot water, rainwater harvesting and grey water re-use and a high-performance façade with double glazing. The SAB has been named a finalist in the upcoming 2013 Australian Construction Achievement Awards (ACAA).
