AUT’s Tukutuku building represents the first step in the revitalisation of the University’s North Campus in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The new four-storey learning facility provides a social and academic heart with a soaring atrium connecting to the existing AF building, comprehensively refurbished as part of the overall development. With connectivity, sustainability and well-being at the heart of design, Tukutuku is the new home of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences and the School of Education and provides all AUT students with an exemplary model for creating a more a sustainable future.

AUT is currently Aotearoa New Zealand’s most energy efficient university. Tukutuku is AUT’s most sustainable building, strengthening AUT’s position as the university with the lowest CO2 emissions/​m2 of built space in Australasia. The use of a new timber structure, combined with the adaptive re-use of the AF building are key to halving embodied carbon emissions, when compared to a new development built using industry-standard materials such as steel or concrete. These strategies ensure A1 meets Jasmax 2030 net zero carbon targets for both operational and embodied carbon.

The name Tukutuku was gifted to AUT by Ngāti Paoa, and references the lattice work of tukutuku panels, weaving together people, place and shared purpose. Tukutuku reflects AUT’s ambition to create physical environments that inspire collaboration, learning and connection and is designed to uplift student achievement by providing a connected hub encompassing student services, with study and social spaces immediately adjacent to a wide range of learning spaces, café, library and academic staff. A1 will be much more than just a place to attend lectures, it will be a learning ecosystem.