Envisioned by , this eight-level campus unfolds towards the sky as more than just a vertical embodiment of educational typology – the structure forges a dialogue between its academic heart and the site’s intricate context. Positioned by the Riverbank precinct, the building acts as a central nexus connecting the university’s intellectual currents with the city’s dynamic realms of technology, governance and artistic expression.
“The interior of the Flinders vertical campus is inspired by the nearby Riverbank precinct and the Kaurna story of the Climbing Tree,” explains Daniel Stanning, Associate & Senior Interior Designer at Architectus. “The objective for the design team was to create immersive and inspiring learning and teaching spaces, infused with the tones and textures of the natural world.”
The very ethos of a meeting place permeates the interiors, fostering an atmosphere of inviting openness that encourages collaboration, fluid movement and spontaneous interaction, while the generous integration of timber echoes the Climbing Tree’s enduring narrative. This profound connection to place finds further expression in the colour palette as the deep umbers of the lower floors morph into the ochre and grey bark undertones of the mid-levels and culminate in the treetop tones on the upper storeys, generating an intuitive cartography and a palpable sense of belonging.
Enmeshed in this thoughtfully conceived architectural identity is a profound recognition of the pragmatic requirements of contemporary education, including the fundamental need for acoustic comfort as a cornerstone of effective learning and connection. The immersive interior design scheme seamlessly weaves a meticulously crafted web of acoustic solutions curated in close collaboration with the Woven Image Commercial Service Team all throughout the learning spaces and communal areas.
Strategically incorporated across walls, ceilings and individual workstations to ensure outstanding sound absorption and effectively minimise noise reverberation, the comprehensive acoustic solutions shape learning spaces into comfortable environments that foster focus, engagement and collaboration. At the same time, Woven Image’s custom acoustic wall and ceiling products further augment the building’s intricate identity, punctuating spaces with their striking architectural lexicon and harmonious palette of natural greys, ochres and greens.
This holistic acoustic design is anchored by the expansive network of patterns created using EchoPanel®’s 12mm acoustic panels all throughout the campus. The multidimensionality of the ceiling baffles galvanises the spaces with a sense of dynamic presence, while the organic palette reinforces the grounding narrative gently reflected throughout the interiors. Suspended off the ceilings with the minimalist Array hardware, the energising cadence of the baffles fuses outstanding acoustic performance with a striking visual geometry, ensuring optimum conditions for effective learning – and anchoring each floor with a compelling sense of place.
“As designers, we really appreciate the way Woven Image embraced more complex ways to work with EchoPanel®,” Daniel enthuses. “The ability to retrofit ceiling tiles and acoustic blades to the existing t-bar ceiling framework was a game changer.”
In key gathering spaces, this creative integration culminates in breathtaking, custom canopy-like installations. Sculptured from the EchoPanel® blades in evocative organic hues, the expansive formations sprawl overhead like curved tree branches, yielding striking ceiling features that dampen noise reverberation in areas buzzing with activity and serve as a tangible link to the site’s profound heritage.
“The EchoPanel® Array ceilings define the interactive and student-led zones throughout the vertical campus,” Daniel explains. “These soft, sculptural canopies provide a sense of arrival at each floor, immersing the visitor in an engaging educational environment with strong visual impact.”
For areas demanding a more robust and individualised acoustic treatment, the thicker 24mm EchoPanel® was implemented as acoustic wall and workspace panelling. Its deepsurface soaks up sound, creating zones of respite and clarity within a busy educational setting. Adding intricate layers of visual and tactile interest, the Pico and Zen embossed panels lend their sculpted topographies to wall surfaces. The subtly ridged Pico and the deeply grooved Zen transform vertical planes into sound-absorbing canvases and visually captivating architectural elements, their textural nuances acting as inconspicuous sensory cues and providing moments of unexpected delight that enrich the academic experience.
This extensive integration of Woven Image’s acoustic solutions in its myriad forms – from the discreet acoustic tiles and high-performing wall treatments to the soaring, canopy-like acoustic ceiling landscapes and richly textured panels – underscores the critical importance of crafting optimal auditory environments within educational spaces. At the same time, this harmonious confluence of sound and sight – underpinned by the acoustic products’ various environmental declarations and certifications – highlights the immense potential of innovative design and collaborative partnerships as crucial to creating engaging, functional and sustainable learning environments.
The outcome is a collection of cohesive spaces where the hum of activity is masterfully fine-tuned, sound absorption is dramatically enhanced and acoustic comfort nurtures genuine engagement, embodying the university’s core mission to facilitate effective teaching and learning. Profoundly informed by the site’s narrative and brought to life through the versatile Woven Image range, this thoughtful design helps foster a dynamic environment grounded by its rich context where meticulously considered soundscapes resonate with the pulse of contemporary academia.
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