The recently completed 13 storey Engineering and IT building sits on a prominent site on the UTS campus on Broadway. The building has an open atrium dividing the building along it’s length and throughout it’s entire height. The presence of such a large and open atrium created many fire engineering challenges.

How we did it differently

• With the use of detailed smoke modelling and Computational Fluid Dynamic modelling we have assessed the conditions within the atrium.

• The modelling allowed the optimisation of the mechanical smoke exhaust rates with a reduction of almost 40% in comparison with the DTS provisions. The modelling involved detailed considerations for both smoke movement and occupant evacuation.

• To achieve the proposed design it was necessary to assess several potential fire scenarios to test the robustness of the design.

• The atrium was largely open with open balconies along three sides of most of the voids. Through working closely with the Architect, client, contractor and other stakeholders we have developed a design that meets the needs of all users with a minimum of redesign and later coordination.

Since it's original completion PBC have also been involved in the assessment of further fitouts in the building, including the B2/3 fitout, which included the provision of a further six flexible teaching spaces across levels B2 and 3.