Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library

The Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library is an AU$21.8 million facility spanning 2,500 sq m across three storeys and containing more than 30,000 new books and resources, including a children’s story time area, outdoor terraces and multipurpose and creative spaces. The building design by Buchan Architects is inspired by a ‘living water’ design narrative developed with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Geelong.

The façade is punctuated by playful circular windows which represent many individuals coming together each one carefully positioned to frame features on the landscape. At night, they create a lantern-like effect which the architects note reflects the building’s role as a beacon of lifelong learning at the heart of the community.

Inhabit was engaged to provide consulting services for the building envelope — from thermal performance, aesthetics, buildability and acoustic sense. The collaboration between the façade, acoustics, and sustainability teams was focused on human experience and building performance, two key factors for a building of this nature and for the owner-occupier-operator scenario. The project was started during the global Pandemic, meaning the design team had to adapt to a new way of working and collaborating in ways that had not been tested before.

A core principle delivered in this project is the integrated approach to the building fabric, building and site, as the portal connecting internal to external conditions, and the necessary science-based relationship between concepts. The team’s skillsets and collaborative working model enabled them to approach the envelope design holistically, considering the current design aspirations while concurrently assessing future construction realities and challenges.

The recently completed library is aiming for a 5-star Green Star Buildings rating through the Green Building Council of Australia. This certification is an independently verified outcome of the sustainable design, operation and community attributes that align with key global goals relating to climate change, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.