Waimarie, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University’s flagship science facility, opened in September 2023, has been named the world’s best building in the Higher Education and Research category at the prestigious World Architecture Festival Awards in Singapore.
The World Architecture Festival Award is the latest in an array of national and international awards won by Waimarie in 2024, including Building Nations (Excellence in Innovation), INDE Awards Asia Pacific (Best Learning Space) and NZ Commercial Project Awards (National Category winner – Education).
The jewel in the crown of Lincoln University’s 10-year programme to develop fit-for-future, environmentally sustainable and resilient campus infrastructure, Waimarie replaces the University’s former earthquake-damaged science buildings, and received $80 million in Crown funding for its construction. It was designed by Warren and Mahoney and constructed by Leighs Construction Ltd.
Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Grant Edwards, says Waimarie’s presence has significantly enhanced the campus environment, and the building’s award wins underscore its central role in the University’s growing profile and reputation.
“Waimarie will be a science facility for the ages,” said Professor Edwards.
“With its state-of-the-art research facilities and teaching spaces set within its biodiverse park-like surroundings, Waimarie is a beacon for students, researchers, teaching and professional staff and other land-based sector leaders from all over Aotearoa and globally.”
The first stage of Warren and Mahoney’s Waimarie design process was to consider the wider Lincoln University campus as an accelerated continuum from education to research to real-world application.
Warren and Mahoney Principal, Jonathan Coote, explains: “Design briefing involved intensive workshopping with all stakeholders – including lead scientists, farmers, research institutes, student bodies and mana whenua – to create an enduring and interconnected environment of learning, research and collaboration spaces, where the best and brightest could come together to address global land-based challenges.
“The architectural outcome is a highly connected amalgam of flat-floored teaching spaces, research and teaching laboratories and collaborative spaces that allows for seamless cross-collaboration of students, agri-business partners, research and academic staff.
“The result places science on display, extending the student learning experience into real-world scientific application, and vice versa.”
A prime consideration for the design team was to indelibly link Waimarie to the whenua on which it stands.
“The team crafted a clear and legible design vision that embodies Lincoln University and Te Taumutu Rūnanga’s values with a design outcome that carefully references the neighbouring heritage while expressing its place in the wider Lincoln context,” says Mr Coote.
Paramount to the design team’s approach was to realise Lincoln University’s vision to be an exemplar of sustainable practices in the land-based sector and its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050.
“A highly skilled team, including our lab partner Lab-works Architecture and engineering colleagues, came together to innovate a highly sustainable building that has been designed to endure,” said Mr Coote.
“The solar façade, ground-sourced energy system, modular design and low carbon design strategies have catalysed Lincoln University’s commitment to change – leading to a carbon assessment that surpassed RIBAs 2025 targets by over a third.”
Professor Grant Edwards says Waimarie is an asset not just for the University, but for all of Aotearoa and worldwide.
“Waimarie is an international epicentre for education and research in the land-based sector, as well as a hub for inter-organisational partnerships, industry-wide collaborations and centres of excellence.”
“The challenges confronting land-based sectors worldwide are myriad and acute, and Waimarie is already a flourishing nexus where students, researchers and industry leaders are working collaboratively to deliver creative, innovative and smart solutions to managing global agri-food systems more productively and sustainably.
“Lincoln University is a champion and exemplar of sustainable practices in the land-based sector, and the addition of Waimarie to our campus has further underlined our commitment to the United Nations SDGs, especially those related to zero hunger, climate action, life on land and quality education,” said Prof Edwards.
Waimarie was officially opened on 27 September 2023 at an event attended by Lincoln University staff and students, leaders from neighbouring CRIs, industry bodies, dignitaries, research partners, construction contractors and other stakeholders, with then-Agriculture Minister Hon Damien O’Connor cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
To find out more about Waimarie, its sustainability features and its cultural narrative, visit Lincoln University opens flagship science facility, Waimarie.
