詹姆斯·库克大学（James Cook University，简称为JCU）汤斯维尔校区（Townsville campus）的中央广场不仅是一个学术和社交中心，还为人们提供了一个休憩放松、交流想法和举办大型团体聚会活动的空间。本项目位于大学校区的中心地带，致力于进一步促进校园内人与人之间的交流和互动，已于2020年的迎新周正式开放。醒目的屋顶与附近横跨校园的小溪Wadda Mooli Creek、大型活动草坪、水景和小径相辅相成，营造出一种和谐的校园氛围。
A place to pause and relax, bounce ideas from one to another, or host large group gatherings, the Central Plaza at James Cook University’s (JCU) Townsville campus is an academic and social hub. Opened for O-week 2020, the structure sits at the centre of the University and is the catalyst for wider developments within the campus. The dramatic canopy is complemented by its engagement with the adjacent Wadda Mooli Creek, a large event lawn, a water feature and connecting pathways.
▼项目外观，exterior view of the project ©Richard Davis
建筑事务所Cox Architecture的项目负责人Richard Coulson表示：“虽然这个项目的规模较小，但它仍具有一种可爱的复杂性，从而可以激发这个位于热带地区的大学的校园活力。”
COX Director, Richard Coulson “This relatively small project has a delightful complexity that seeks to capture the University’s ambitions for engagement in the tropics.”
建筑的屋顶由两个相连且对应的锥形拱构成，形成了一个令人难忘的、优雅的复杂空间。由479个独立的印刷穿孔板构成的创新型拱腹与弯曲的屋顶、镜面不锈钢的屋顶支撑结构、成形的三重弯曲面板和现浇的异形混凝土悬臂结构相结合，打造出一个醒目的空间。
COX Developed the roof canopy from two connected but opposing tapering vaults, producing a memorable space that is elegant, fluid and spatially complex. The soffit is constructed of 479 individual printed perforated panels. This innovative work integrates with the curved roof form, mirrored stainless steel roof supports, formed triple curved fascia and insitu cantilevered off-form concrete.
▼项目外观，建筑的屋顶由两个相连且对应的锥形拱构成，exterior view of the project, the roof canopy is mad of two connected but opposing tapering vaults ©Richard Davis
▼项目外观，拱腹由479个独立的印刷穿孔板构成，exterior view of the project, the soffit is constructed of 479 individual printed perforated panels ©Richard Davis
Thuringowa的成员Aaron Harper说道：“这个项目无论是在设计、成品效果、还是景观方面，都将自然之美和城市特点表现得淋漓尽致。我相信，学生们一定会喜欢这个中央广场的。”
Member for Thuringowa, Aaron Harper, “The design, finishes and landscaping all channel the natural beauty and urban identity found in our part of the world. Students will love Central Plaza.”
本项目的设计不仅与该大学的历史和教学模式息息相关，更从颜色上呼应了该大学的校徽——“太阳从银蓝相交的海浪之上跃然于人们的视野之中（Barry Wavy of Eight Argent and Azure on a Sun in Splendour）”。项目严谨的几何结构是是科学、医学和工程学科的真实反映，而其有机的建筑特性则表现出一种人文学科的感觉。
The design connects to the University’s history, teaching and learning. There is a subtle allusion to JCU’s coat of arms in the design reflecting “Barry Wavy of Eight Argent and Azure on a Sun in Splendour” – seen in the eight wavy bands of silver/white with blue behind a sun of dramatic rays. The rigours of the structure’s geometry reflect the science, medicine and engineering subjects with its organic qualities representing the humanities.
▼项目从设计上呼应了该大学的校徽，there is a subtle allusion to JCU’s coat of arms in the design ©Richard Davis
JCU的副校长Sandra Harding教授表示，中央广场将为学生们提供一个全新的学校空间，从而丰富他们的校园生活体验。“中央广场的各个部分都沿着贯穿了校园中心的Magnetic Island Axis轴线对齐布置，而这条轴线也恰恰连接了校园内的各个重要节点空间。”
JCU Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said Central Plaza will provide students with an enhanced campus experience. “The components of Central Plaza are arranged and aligned along the Magnetic Island Axis, which runs through the heart of the campus.” “This axis links key components of the James Birrell-designed campus including the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and our connection to the Townsville University Hospital.”
屋顶三维的下表面上装点着出自Quandamooka 族艺术家Megan Cope之手的二维画作，从而使得建筑体量更为醒目。该二维画作名为《洪水过后（After the Flood）》，是Cope所创作的洪水景观系列画作的一部分。该系列画作以汤斯维尔海岸线的旧军事地图为基础，不仅充分表现了随着时间的推移，环境、个体、地貌和地图分布等是如何交织在一起的，更探索了海平面上升的潜在可能性及其与气候变化的联系。
Amplifying this dramatic volume, Quandamooka artist Megan Cope developed a two-dimensional work that was effectively overlayed on the three-dimensional canopy soffit. The artwork, titled After the Flood, is part of Cope’s flooded landscape series which illustrates how environment, identity, geomorphology and mapping are interwoven over time. Using old military maps of the Townsville coastline, After the flood explores potential sea level rises over time and their connection to climate change.
▼屋顶的内表面上装点着名为《洪水过后》的画作，the artwork, titled After the Flood is effectively overlayed on the three-dimensional canopy soffit ©Richard Davis
▼屋顶内表面细节，details of the canopy soffit ©Richard Davis
Townsville的成员Scott Stewart表示：“这一系列全新的功能空间不仅赋予了校园一种真实的特性，更有助于吸引国内甚至海外的广大学子，从而提升学校的报考率和入学率。”
Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, “These sorts of additions create a real identity for a campus, and by doing so you’re helping to boost enrolments, both from our region and overseas.’
▼水景，the waterscape ©Richard Davis
Completion date: 2020 Project team: Cox Architecture Photo: Richard Davis
