University of Tasmania – Medical Research Laboratories & Training Centre

The building

The five (5) storey world-class research and training facility is known as the Menzies Centre forming Stage 1 of the UTas co-location project. The facility comprises of auditorium/lecture theatres, the MRI clinic, both wet and dry Integrated Learning Labs (ILL), dissection labs, small group meeting rooms and offices enclosures for staff. The design included a central internal atrium and a glazed external atrium that connected the Stage 1 building to the heritage listed Hollydene building (Stage 2). The interconnected area is considered to be a large open meeting place for all members of the university. The glazed roof was supported by way of a steel structure providing significant natural smoke venting performance.

The approach

Fire safety engineering was primarily applied to fire resistance levels, occupant egress provisions and fire fighting equipment. Justification and rationalisation were supported by comprehensive 3D computation fire modelling and occupant movement simulation to demonstrate occupant life safety and fire brigade intervention.