Image Credit : Robert Walsh
Project Overview
Western Sydney University's Financial Training Lab is a dedicated learning space designed to facilitate the acquisition and expansion of investment and fund management skills.
The project's primary objective is to create an immersive learning environment that simulates the feel of a real financial trading floor where students can focus on data analysis and financial training.
The Financial Training Lab is designed as a vibrant space, creating a dynamic and active atmosphere. The Lab's program focuses on ensuring moderate speech intelligibility, creative lighting, and engaging visual content of the screens to generate an energetic and lively environment.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Client: Western Sydney University
Interior Design: Studio Jigen + Buro Architects
Graphic Design: KARAPPO
Construction: Premier Constructions and Interiors
Lighting Advisory: ModuleX
Project Brief
The Financial Training Lab initiative aspires to create an immersive learning environment simulating real-world financial experiences. This project strives to transform traditional learning spaces by integrating technology, incorporating interactive learning styles, rearranging desk layouts, and providing hands-on learning experiences through programs.
In addressing the design challenges, the lab is envisioned to create a focused, data-driven atmosphere, implementing controlled colour and lighting schemes, suspended central monitor units, and architectural elements such as a large glass opening for a training-focused environment. Graphic features, including a continuous ticker sign and custom-designed typography, contribute to a unified, branded design.
Sustainability is integral to the lab's ethos, seen in the minimal utilisation of new materials and a focus on reusing existing elements to reduce the environmental impact. The space's lighting setup, combined with efficient new lighting integrated with sensors, emphasises energy-conscious practices, aligning with the university's commitment to sustainability.
With its commitment to providing enriched learning experiences and advancing financial literacy, this innovative lab is set to redefine the conventional learning space.
Project Innovation/Need
The Financial Training Lab has a clear initiative to offer students practical experiences, preparing them to tackle complex financial situations. This initiative aims to have a substantial societal impact through programs focused on financial literacy, promoting financial inclusiveness, and fostering the economic growth process in the community.
The lab is integrated with cutting-edge technology, and unlike traditional setups, the lab’s student desks are strategically oriented towards the central unit, fostering deeper connections between students and lecturers, thus enhancing engagement.
With its innovative approach, the lab has the potential to inspire the development of similar teaching spaces throughout the university, providing students with expanded and enriched learning experiences. Ultimately, this project is envisioned as a pioneering model in the realm of learning methods and space typology, shaping the future of education.
Design Challenge
The design principle for the Lab revolves around creating a focused and visually engaging environment. It combines efficient use of resources with innovative design elements, fostering a sense of identity for the space. The design prioritises the controlled colour and lighting scheme, enhancing the visibility of information displayed on screens and creating a conducive atmosphere for financial trainings.
A key design feature is the central monitor unit. It functions as the central point of focus and as the gathering hub. The monitors are raised and angled downwards slightly to ensure optimal visibility from every corner of the space. The intentional gap exists between the lower plinth and the monitors, strategically designed to offer an area for conversation with a concealed presentation terminal, unifying the room into a singular, cohesive space.
Another significant feature is the large glass opening that provides a distinctive, training-focused ambiance and ensures visibility of activities within from the corridor side, encouraging interest from passersby.
The information and graphic elements are thoughtfully detailed. A continuous ticker sign runs along the outer wall of the room, extending from the top of the wall to the floor. This captivating feature adds an appealing and dynamic aspect to the space, capturing visitors' attention. The unique typography featuring dots that form the motif of data, was custom-designed for this facility, establishing the space's identity, seamlessly integrated into the studio name signage and graphics on the central unit. The result is a unified, branded design that breathes life into the Lab.
Sustainability
Aligned with Western Sydney University's sustainability strategic plan, the Financial Training Lab reflects its commitment to sustainability as a core element of its organisational culture and operations.
A key principle of space design is the utilisation of existing elements. Major components of floor, wall, and ceiling maintain the lab's original configuration, while minor changes, such as repainting and changing finishes, dramatically transform the space.
This approach not only lessens the environmental impact of demolishment and ecological footprint but also shows that minor alterations can have profound design effects.
The project's product selection is guided by a commitment to environmental responsibility, incorporating minimal new materials into the space, and choosing options like linoleum for the benchtop of the central unit due to their low environmental impact.
Moreover, the space utilises existing fixtures for ceiling lighting and enhances the setup by integrating with highly efficient new lighting controlled by sensors. This system ensures the lights activate only when necessary, responding to different settings like lectures or presentations to prevent unnecessary energy consumption.
This dedication aligns with Western Sydney University's ethos of promoting sustainable practices, demonstrating the commitment to making the Financial Training Lab a responsible, environmentally-conscious construction and operation model.
Interior Design - Education
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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