James Cook University Architecture

I've had plenty of time recently to kill between shoots out at James Cook University in Townsville. What better way to spend the time than trying to come to terms with the architecture of many of the original buildings out there. We are all familiar with the term "Sandstone Universities" - well for my money the original JCU must be described as a "Concrete University" or "Besser Block University". Of course things architecture wise have changed considerably in recent years with a new crop of buildings - SoCA, ATSIP, Education Central and the Clinical Practice Building. The Cairns campus has also received an architectural makeover with the recently finished and extraordinary Cairns Institute.Back to the original JCU buildings which seem totally out of place in the tropical environment. These days it's all about sustainability, sympathy to the environment and the intended use of the facility. These buildings which at first I thought were terribly ugly and presented a very cold, austere and institutional look I have recently become quite fond of. I enjoy the fact that they would seem to be prime examples of "Brutalist Architecture" with a nod towards the work of Le Corbusier. No need to travel overseas to view some iconic architectural styles - its all right here in sunny Nth Queensland.