UNSW Roundhouse

Designed by the NSW Government Architect, Joseph W. van der Steen and Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs, the generous spaces and pioneering elegant design of the UNSW Roundhouse have supported the cultural and social life of the University and the city for 60 years.

After years of ad-hoc, low quality additions, the UNSW Roundhouse building failed to meet contemporary energy and acoustic standards, and presented as tired and shabby.

The new design by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer respects the heritage of the building, but adds new functionality by stripping away additions, upgrading the building envelope thermally and acoustically, and building a more efficient and compact kitchen service wing, clad in a refined polished stone.

Whilst a major aim of the project was to improve the external spaces of the building with connections to Anzac Parade and the broader university campus, TZG’s focus was on the dramatic, multi-use interior.

Flexible spaces and high-quality finishes join with extensive energy and acoustic upgrades to ensure the longevity and functionality of the building, retaining its large audience and event capacity, and enhancing its innovative and distinctive Mid Century Modern architecture.

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer creatively balanced the robust performance requirements of this intensively-used space with the University’s aim for a very high standard of finish and the need to conserve significant elements of the original architecture.

They delivered that brief within the constraints of low-energy use and high sound performance and have achieved a unique and exciting interior, much acclaimed.

Support spaces and smaller student areas join and surround the central domed auditorium, the centre piece of the building.

This major Sydney event space has a capacity of 2,200 for band gigs, conferences, parties, and sit-down dinners.

It is enhanced with contemporary event infrastructure, acoustic control, and carefully-managed day-lighting.

Externally, new active and passive spaces link the building westwards to Anzac Parade and reinforce a new pedestrian spine.

The refurbished Uni Bar with its shady beer garden remains a busy campus icon.

On site and archival research by TZG led to the selection of high-performance spotted gum timber finishes as a key element in the design.

The ceilings throughout were carefully managed to reduce clutter and improve acoustics.

And the central lighting rig ring was fully rebuilt to contemporary performance requirements.

The poorly-performing non-original sprayed finish of the main domed roof was removed and a new tensioned acrylic membrane installed.

Flexible room dividers maximise the utilisation of major and minor spaces for day and night activities, opening out the interiors to the newly-landscaped campus spaces around the building.

Externally, the glazed facades are fully reconstructed to accommodate BCA-compliant egress and improve thermal performance, subtly reworked to give a contemporary edge to the 60-year old building.

The marble-chip render to the concrete balustrades, which had been painted over, has been restored.

The kitchen wing, a dysfunctional accretion of poor additions, was completely rebuilt to a smaller footprint to improve external campus circulation.

Its radial curve is offset from that of the main building to better fit to the constrained site, and its exterior clad in reflective dark stone to make the form recessive against the brighter drum of the original building.

Project Details

Completion date – 2018

Project Awards

2019 AIA NSW Award for Sustainable Architecture

Project Team

Architecture

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer has a special interest in public spaces, public buildings and “edge” architecture, often providing buildings with roles and uses outside their traditional functions.

The crossover between art and architecture is a springing point for a design philosophy, which takes each project as a new challenge, without reliance on established precedents.

Constant reinvention of their architecture brings a surprising diversity to the completed projects, with an on-going sense of exploration and discovery.

The work is consistently and thoughtfully grounded by appropriateness and sustainability.

www.tzg.com.au

Planning – Urbis
Access – Morris Access Consulting
Landscape Architecture – ASPECT Studios
Structural Engineering – SDA Structures
Mechanical Engineering and ESD – Arup
Hydraulic and Electrical Engineering – JHA Consulting Engineers
Communications – UNSW ITCS
Fire Engineering – Core Engineering
Acoustic Engineering – Acoustic Studio
BCA + PCA – Blackett Maguire + Goldsmith
Kitchen Design – Sangster Design Group
Theatre Design – Richard Stuart
Signage – Decorating The Duck
Project Manager – Capital Insight

Construction

Multiplex Constructions

Multiplex was established in Australia in 1962 and have successfully delivered over 1,000 iconic projects, with a combined value in excess of US$80 billion.

www.multiplex.global