DCWC provided Project Management services for Murdoch University’s Boola Katitjin project. Boola Katitjin, meaning ‘lots of learning’ in Noongar language, is constructed from Mass Engineered Timber (MET), and marks a significant milestone as the first large-scale timber building in Western Australia.
Constructed with both locally and internationally sourced timber, it showcases the region's sustainable resources whilst also creating an inclusive and forward-looking environment within the campus. Not only has the amount of timber used already been regrown, but the use of this material also pays respect to the indigenous people who have used natural renewable products such as timber to build shelters and homes for 60,000 years.
Offering equitable and inclusive access options, Boola Katitjin features a vertical system of lifts, stairs, and escalators. The design incorporates timber colonnades and circulation layers that provide protection from sun, rain, and wind while guiding students and visitors through the campus and providing a connection to Country.
Inside Boola Katitjin, spacious collaborative learning spaces accommodate various group sizes, complemented by informal peer-to-peer learning areas and quiet spaces. The external spaces, including Banksia Court and arrival plazas, containing commissioned work by indigenous artists, further enhances the overall experience. The architects' vision for the building is described as a 'warehouse for learning', combining functionality with architectural excellence.
By seamlessly integrating innovative timber construction, sustainable design practices, and a remarkable southern arrival point, this collaboration has successfully transformed the Murdoch University campus. Boola Katitjin was recently recognised with multiple awards by WA’s Institute of Architects and Engineers Australia (WA), and recently won the top prize for worlds best Higher Education building for 2023 at the World Archicture awards.