University of Tasmania MS2

Ironbridge Managing Director, John Butterworth, designed the glazed, concrete, and aluminium feature facade elements for this sophisticated academic research facility in the heart of Hobart’s urban fabric.

The facade combines precast concrete panels, high-performance glazing, and sculptural aluminium fins. Together, these elements provide outstanding thermal performance while creating a visual story tied to place: the coloured and fritted glass panels evoke the surrounding Tasmanian landscape—its contours, rivers, and lakes—with the Derwent River expressed as a bold blue stripe across the northwest elevation. The aluminium fins trace the landforms of Hobart’s hills, offering both shading and sculptural character.

The system incorporates brise-soleil functionality—an architectural approach where carefully positioned shading elements block the harsh summer sun while still allowing in the softer winter light. This reduces heat gain, improves comfort, and lowers energy use, all while contributing to the building’s striking aesthetic.

The result is a facade that is both thermally efficient and narratively rich, embedding the story of the local geography into the architecture and reinforcing the University of Tasmania’s Medical Science Precinct as a place of innovation and identity.