The double-height chamber at the heart of Melbourne’s Trades Hall complex — the New Council Chamber or Solidarity Hall — re-opened in late 2019 following adaptation and conservation works.
The work was designed by Lovell Chen, Architects and Heritage Consultants, as part of the first phase of a larger ongoing project funded by the Victorian State Government’s Living Heritage Program, the Victorian Trades Hall Council, and individual unions.
The main fabric of the Chamber dates from 1891.
But a catastrophic fire in the 1960s destroyed its roof and most of the interior.
This place operates as the main debating forum in the State and is of great significance to the Trade Union movement.
Lovell Chen’s design team included Kai Chen, Anne-Marie Treweeke, and Stuart Hanafin.
In the spirit of the original, their design returns the Chamber to its original orientation, but with improved facilities and a better circulation plan.
Project Details
Completion Date – 2019
Project Team
Architecture and Heritage Consultants
Lovell Chen
Lovell Chen is a multi-disciplinary practice with more than 40 years of experience in architecture and heritage.
Structural Engineering
WSP Group
WSP believes believe that for societies to thrive, we must all hold ourselves accountable for tomorrow.
Services Engineering
Simpson Kotzman
Simpson Kotzman is an Australian-based consulting engineering firm providing building services design and project administration to the construction sector.
Construction
Multiplex Constructions
Multiplex is a premier construction company established in Australia in 1962. The company is known for shaping skylines and delivering iconic projects around the world and has delivered more than 1,000 projects with a combined value in excess of US$90 billion.
Photography
Eve Wilson
Eve Wilson is an established Melbourne photographer known for her intuitive talent behind the lens and her collaborative, client-centred approach.
Peter Glenane
Drawing on 20 years of experience, Peter has developed a well-defined, collaborative approach to photographing architecture and construction projects.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2022 Lovell Chen. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Eve Wilson and Peter Glenane. All Rights Reserved.
The Builtworks Quest
At Builtworks, we’re on a multi-year quest to document, showcase, and spotlight the best of Australia’s built environment.
That’s why we’re creating this comprehensive online archive and educational resource that showcases a diverse and eclectic range of project types and scales.
Together with showcasing older exemplars of enduring merit, we spotlight and celebrate new and recent additions to Australia’s built environment.