University of Sydney starts construction on 3 landmark buildings
The University has received approval from the Department of Planning and environment for three new education buildings which will help it to create state-of-the-art research facilities.
The proposals by the University of Sydney will generate more than 500 construction jobs and inject more than $187 million into the local economy. The proposals detail plans to build a new Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences building (FASS), the Science Research and Teaching Facility and the Administration Building at the University’s Camperdown campus.
This gateway represents a substantial investment for the University, and is strategically designed to help us meet new and evolving challenges.
Supporting greater collaboration between staff, and featuring landscaping and pedestrian and cyclist access and facilities, the development will also release valuable space for future affordable student accommodation, Higher Degree Research and visiting academic offices, and ceremonial events.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence said that the University was delighted to be in a position to be making such a strong investment in improving our teaching and research facilities.
“The University has already spent $1.6billion on our campus improvements, and these buildings represent part of a further $700million which is in the pipeline,” Dr Spence said.
Greg Robinson, Director of Campus Infrastructure, said: “The City Road development is an exciting opportunity to create a new urban square, and a landmark entry to one of Sydney’s most important institutions."
The FASS building
The proposed six-storey FASS building will include a research centre, lecture theatre, general teaching spaces, office and meeting rooms and a rooftop terrace.
The sustainable building will consolidate staff and students from the Faculty’s School of Economics and the School of Social and Political Sciences who are currently fragmented across different buildings on the campus.
The new building, located on the campus’ northern Parramatta Road boundary, will be connected by an awning to the existing RD Watt building, which will also be refurbished.
LEES1 Building
The proposed new eight-storey science research and teaching building, the LEES 1 Building, and new five-storey Administration Building will be developed opposite one another at the University’s Camperdown Campus City Road entry, creating a new gateway to the University.
The proposed Administration Building and LEES1 Building.
Teaching and research staff from the discipline of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LEES) – including members of the new School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) – will come together in the new LEES1 Building.
A unique layout will preserve the mature figs on one boundary and deliver approximately 10,000 squared metres of flexible, new research and teaching space.
Designed by HDR Rice Daubney, the LEES1 Building will connect with the podium levels of the existing F07 Carslaw Building to enable shared common spaces and facilities, while allowing movement between the two buildings. These connections will multiply when the Carslaw Building is redeveloped in the future.
The LEES1 Building will put science on display.
“By encouraging cross and inter-disciplinary interaction – and embracing the world’s best practice in teaching, laboratory and workplace design – we’re creating a sustainable teaching hub in the heart of the University.”
The Administration Building
University executive staff and administrative functions will be housed in a new five-storey facility on the southern edge of the Camperdown Campus. Known as the F23 Administration Building, it will bring together co-workers currently situated across the university.
The design, by Grimshaw Architects, acknowledges the heritage of the campus and complements its existing sandstone buildings. Large floor plates will allow for open plan spaces to improve productivity and departmental interaction.
The new buildings are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
