November 12, 2025
Climate-Optimised Building Systems
As Australia progresses towards its emissions reduction targets and begins to adapt to our changing climate, the way we design and engineer buildings is evolving. Energy efficiency, indoor air quality, condensation and mould risk, and the embodied carbon in building materials have become critical considerations. The choices made in building design today will shape the sustainability and resilience of our building environment and have an impact for decades to come, so it is critical that these choices are based on solid science.
A team at the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), working under the Steel Research Hub, is partnering with to better understand the detailed physical processes at play in roofs and walls comprising steel building systems. The UOW project team consists of , , and and the BlueScope team includes Jamie Adams, Mark Eckermann, Glen Hampton and Jack Whitford.
Experiments have included ventilation tests in metal-clad roofs, and thermal testing of wall panels in SBRC’s climate chambers. The modelling of these systems has helped to extend the results to cover Australia’s many climates, including projections for future conditions.
Outcomes from this project are establishing a greater understanding of building system performance in the context of the Australian climate and construction, to develop evidence and understand risks and help set future standards for new buildings in Australia. The research is also guiding BlueScope in advising industry on best-practice design. Ultimately, this project research will help shape building designs that are energy-efficient, resilient, and healthy places to live and work, ensuring they meet the demands of Australia’s changing climate.