Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics

Celebrating the refurbished Birch Building and School of Cybernetics

The Australian National University (ANU) has completed a significant refurbishment of the Birch Building to support the new and growing School of Cybernetics – and you're invited to experience the space and celebrate with us. 

Originally constructed in 1967, the heritage-listed building is named after Arthur Birch, one of the greatest organic chemists of the twentieth century. Having previously housed the Research School of Chemistry, it is now home to the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics, located on the Acton campus on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country. 

The Birch renovation has received multiple awards celebrating its preservation, adaptation, and forward-thinking sustainability practices. We’ve honoured and lovingly restored unique heritage features that form part of our rich ANU history: from a historic water fountain to the iconic central atrium staircase, and the building’s distinctive precast exterior façade.  

Today, the Birch Building is home to the new School of Cybernetics, which is making space for different futures and transforming the way that society engages with technology. You will be invited to explore what this means through a curated exhibition: Australian cybernetic: a point through time.

As the first purpose-built engineering facilities at ANU, the refurbished Birch Building will provide a crucial hub for transformational research and education in engineering and cybernetics. It includes contemporary teaching spaces, learning environments, and state-of-the-art research laboratories – which we can’t wait to share with you. 

Join us to celebrate the re-development of the Birch Building and its historical legacy, launch the new School of Cybernetics, and explore our ongoing work at the ANU to seek creative solutions for the world’s greatest challenges.