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An innovative crowdsourced design challenge for the revolutionary EZONE UWA, an infrastructure project to build a new student hub for learning, research and community engagement space, was recently held over two days at The University of Western Australia.

Named Game of EZONEs, the event saw students and EZONE UWA stakeholders from across UWA come together to develop game-changing design ideas to maximise the sustainability of the building space, reduce infrastructure costs and provide technological solutions to transform learning and student outcomes. They were supported by the EZONE UWA architects and consultants.

The event commenced with a welcome address from the Honorable Bill Marmion MLA, Faculty alumnus and Minister for Innovation; State Development and Transport. Jarvas Croome, CEO WesTrac Pty Ltd, also spoke to the power of innovation, and an attitude that nothing is impossible.

“Innovation starts with ideas! Games of EZONEs off to a flying start!” Marmion posted to his Twitter. The event was sponsored by Wood & Grieve Engineers and supported by Pritchard Francis, NS Projects, Hassell Studio, RBB, and EZONE UWA foundation partners BHP Billiton and Woodside Energy.

Students and stakeholders with a passion for innovation were asked to bring their ideas and compete in teams for a share of $5,000 in prize money – with the prospect of their ideas becoming part of EZONE UWA.

The winning team was Team Alpha with their “Bold Vision’ design concept to create highly visible communal spaces and a digital and social media platform to encourage greater collaboration in workspaces. Ideas included centrally located, glass-partitioned lecture theatres surrounded by high traffic viewing galleries with speakers and headphone jacks to make lectures audible to passers-by.

The People’s Choice winner was The Bumbles with their ‘A Busy Campus’ proposal which took inspiration from the natural world to incorporate a ‘honeycomb’ structural design and an eco-conscious atrium. Key sustainability elements included groundwater/ pond heater exchange, a water retention system, spill air recycling and gas filled double glazed glass.

Professor John Dell, Dean of UWA’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics said the competition allowed students to collaborate with key industry to impact the design phase of EZONE UWA.

“Game of EZONES was a great opportunity for our students to engage with industry on a design challenge to future-proof EZONE UWA – a vision that is fast becoming a reality with progression to the detailed design phase of an $80 million student focused hub in 2017,” Professor Dell said.

Deputy Dean (Community and Engagement) of the Faculty and VP Innovation Capability at Woodside, Brian Haggerty said Game of EZONEs provided a win-win opportunity to embrace the innovative ideas that can propel EZONE’s progress into the future for prospective generations.

“It became a stimulating and explorative environment for participants to rapidly solve the potential challenges a project such as EZONE UWA can overcome,” Brian Haggerty said.

The expert judging panel from industry and UWA included Carolina Leao, Transformation Lead BHP Billiton; Andrew Walker, Fleet Engineering; Peter Lilly, Former EZONE UWA Director, and Professor Simon Anderson, Dean of UWA Architecture.

Photo: The Honourable Bill Marmion MLA and Brian Haggerty with students who participated in Game of EZONEs

Media references

Clara Dodman (UWA Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics) (+61 8) 6488 7501