John Wardle Architects in association with Swanbury Penglase Architects have recently been engaged by the University of South Australia for the M2 Building and The Plasso project located at their Mawson Lakes Campus.



“The M² Building is intended to be a catalyst for innovative learning and teaching and high quality research in a materials and minerals science and engineering hub located at Mawson Lakes. The building facilitates the engagement between undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, higher degree research students, leading researchers and industry stakeholders in a flexible, open and creative space aimed at stimulating innovation in relevant areas. The building will ensure the delivery of contemporary practice-based education programs and internationally significant research” from the University of South Australia’s Project Vision Statement for M² Building and The Plasso

The location of the M² Building, between town and campus, establishes a formal integration of industry and visitors (from town) with staff and students (from campus).  The initial design approach, already in place, encourages this nexus by developing a permeable ground plane, a lively central vertical connection linked to shared facilities, and a series of interactive social working, teaching and learning environments. In the campus context, the M² Building will act as the hub of the material and mineral sciences disciplines.



UniSA has a significant ESD agenda for the M² Building which is driving many innovative sustainability initiatives. The building’s layout, orientation, façade treatment, material selection, and building servicing are aiming to achieve a minimum 5 Star Green Star rating and maximum carbon emission target of 80 – 85kg of CO²/m².