USP - Tuvalu Campus
The scope was to create high-quality sustainable Tuvalu Campus for the University of the South Pacific (USP). The design of the gifted site by the Tuvalu Government works to integrate with the existing natural amenity and infrastructure inherent to the site. With the increasing demand for creative learning, Tuvalu Government wanted to revamp their existing structure with better education access to their students and build a premium quality university on the island of Funafuti.
- Administrative accommodation from projected growth in students and staff numbers in Tuvalu
- Energy consumption plan, operating and maintenance cost
- Maximize mobile learning initiatives
- ICT infrastructure to minimize reliance on physical space
- Implement green campus principals for sustainable development
The university of the South Pacific spreads across the 12 states in the pacific by delivering a wide range of options in education sector. The overall site area consists of is 2200 meters’ land and an area of 1500 meters per floor is accessible. Prominent signs of rising ocean levels are seen because of a worldwide temperature alteration and it is expected that the whole island can be submerged in the future.
Each lecture or office space were designed as individual pods that could slide into the structure and could be pulled out structure in an emergency, transported by boat (like shipping containers) and then be relocated, to another island, where all services would be plugged in and schooling would resume. The design spaces are flexible to interchange into a different function and can accommodate both large and small room capacity. Spaces are flexible enough to changing teaching pedagogies.
The proposed design on the first floor has functions; meeting/conference rooms, offices, 10 flexible learning spaces with learning commons area, computer labs, commercial kiosk, lecture theatres, library and tutorial room. The design uses passive design principles by promoting natural lighting, cross ventilation via high level windows and raised ground floor. There is provision for solar panels on the roof top and a solar battery room on the ground floor.
Sustainability is one of the important aspects we have kept in mind throughout the design process.
