Parramatta Campus NSW, University of Western Sydney Building, Design Australia
Boilerhouse Precinct, Sydney : Parramatta Campus Building
Boilerhouse Precinct, New South Wales design by Tanner Architects Pty Ltd, Australia
8 Oct 2012
The Parramatta campus, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Design: Tanner Architects Pty Ltd
Boilerhouse Precinct
Public Space
photo : Michael Nicholson
Boilerhouse Precinct Building, Sydney
The Parramatta campus of University of Western Sydney is a significant and historic place. Continuously used since 1813 as a public institution – first as a school for the new colony’s female orphans, then as a psychiatric hospital and since 1998 as a university. The sequential development has resulted in a fine grained built form with a series of non axial vistas and interstitial places bounded by a cohesive group of buildings.
photos : Michael Nicholson
However as is common in many institutional places a pragmatic need for expansion often disfigured many of the fine architectural attributes of the existing buildings and landscape settings. Since 1998 the University has transformed the campus into a vibrant place for education and engendered a new layer of architectural meaning. Early projects involved the renewal of the 19th century ward buildings and the nationally significant Female Orphan School. As the campus population grew the demand for a truly student focused public domain at the centre of the campus became critical.
photos : Michael Nicholson
With population growth from 4000 to well over 9000 in the space of 2 years, there was a clear demand for improved hospitality services on the campus. Until this project was completed there were limited opportunities and those that existed were on the periphery and quite internal. The Boilerhouse adaptation and the attached outdoor pavilion is a direct response to this situation – providing a place that is lively and transient in the manner of a market square.
photos : Michael Nicholson
At a detailed level the project introduced a new physical presence. It is not historicist nor is it overtly contemporary yet it makes a new statement of university life. The ground planes of the three key buildings of the Precinct reach out to the cranked pedestrian concourse removing the artificial barrier of building edge and public domain – decks and terraces provide places to stop and unwind between lectures. These transformations make for a broader conception of the student hub than a contained and defined student union building.
drawings by Tanner Architects Pty Ltd
The project team, including artists and graphic designers worked collaboratively and has generated a remarkable set of devices that together make up a rich and multilayered public domain. In stitching together disparate buildings the landscape and the built environment come together. The Boilerhouse Precinct offers the Parramatta Campus a truly student focused public domain.
photo of original building
Boilerhouse Precinct Parramatta Campus – Building Information
Architectural Team: Alex Kibble, Angelo Casado, Daelynn Loh, Marta Eyles, Courtney Ryan, Vanessa Holtham, Mardi Christian, Mary Mitry
Project Management: University of Western Sydney, Capital Works and Facilities
Landscape Architect: Taylor Brammer
Structural, Civil + Hydraulic Engineer: Mott MacDonald Hughes Trueman
Mechanical + Electrical Engineer: Kuttner Collins
Kitchen Consultant: Mack Group
BCA: Davis Langdon
Accessibility: Accessibility Solutions
Graphic Design: Spatchurst
Interpretation: Musescape
Artists: Philip Spark – Industrial Artefacts; Michael Keighery – Mosaic
Contractor – Phase 1: Nick Johnson Landscapes
Contractor – Phase 2: Gledhill Constructions
Boilerhouse Precinct Sydney images + information from Tanner Architects Pty Ltd
Location: Parramatta Campus, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Parramatta Architecture
Contemporary Parramatta Buildings – selection of contemporary architectural designs:
PHIVE Civic Center, Parramatta, West Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Architects: Manuelle Gautrand Architecture
photo © Sara Vita
PHIVE Civic Center Parramatta
Matrix Apartments in Parramatta
Architects: Tony Owen Partners
image from architecture practice
Matrix Apartments in Parramatta
International Design Competition for new Powerhouse Precinct at Parramatta
image © Mark Merton Photography
New Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences Parramatta
The New Arthur Phillip High School and Parramatta Public School, Macquarie Street, NSW, Australia
Design: Grimshaw Architects / BVN
image courtesy Grimshaw
Arthur Phillip High School and Parramatta Public School
Parramatta Stage 5 & 6 Towers Competition Entry
Design: Esan Rahmani Architects
images from architects
Parramatta Stage 5 & 6 Towers Competition
Aspire Tower
Design: Grimshaw Architects
image from architects
Aspire Tower Parramatta Building
Powerhouse Parramatta Design Competition Winners
Powerhouse Parramatta Design Competition Winners
New Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Parramatta
New Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Parramatta
BMW Showroom
Design: Turner + Associates Architects
image courtesy of architects practice
BMW Showroom Parramatta
New Architecture in Sydney
Contemporary Sydney Buildings
Sydney Architecture Designs – chronological list
Sydney Architecture Walking Tours by e-architect
Sydney Architecture
Darling Quarter
Design: Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Darling Quarter Sydney
Holman House, Dover Heights, east Sydney
Durbach Block Architects
Sydney Waterfront House
Comments / photos for the Boilerhouse Precinct University of Western Sydney – Parramatta Campus Building page welcome
