This case study will present the UTS Central project as an exemplar of how an architect’s design intent can be maintained through the use of material-specific design solutions, parametric modelling and digital fabrication. The project is a striking 17-storey, glass-encased building which forms the final project of the University of Sydney’s (UTS) City Campus Master Plan. Parametrically derived via a set of rules, the sun shading system regulates solar access into the library’s reading room and is manufactured primarily from folded aluminum components. Each of 108 unique bays consists of a louvre, 64 of which are operable, with fixed cladding either side.
Introduction
The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is one of the least digitalised industries across the board. The much cited McKinsey report claims that large projects typically take 20 percent longer to finish than scheduled and are up to 80 percent over budget.1 While the industry has…