UON Alumni House
2020 Awabakal and Worimi Country / Newcastle, NSW
A generous gift of space that integrates university life with the city.
The competition design for an alumni centre, with partners Curious Practice, offers an inclusive and accessible interface between academia and the community.
Reimagining the Edge of the Streetscape
Architecture that redefines where private space meets the city.
Alumni House subverts the traditional streetscape of hard perimeter, the metaphoric and literal boundary between interior and exterior space that is the pattern of other buildings in this city park setting. One corner of the four-storey building is set back from the street dissolving the border between public and private spaces.
Discover more
“Recessing the civic edge creates a flexible, multi-use open space at street level, a generous civic room that extends the footpath. It welcomes people into the building and brings university life literally onto the street. ”
On the upper levels alumni activity is orientated to the perimeters of the building making it visible to the street. The facades are wrapped with generous terraces, an active edge to the street exemplifying engagement.
This inversion of traditional inward-facing institutional spaces connects the inner-life of the university to the local community. The meeting spaces, amphitheatre and cafe are used by alumni and the broader public, creating opportunities for informal encounters and responding to demands for state of the art facilities.
A distinctive cantilevered roof caps the building, and vertical beams create a deep coffered ceiling, adding volume and drama to the top level function room.
There are two contrasting materialities: light and heavy. The building is wrapped in a translucent shimmering stainless-steel veil, suggesting transparency and openness. Delicate and lively, it softens the building mass. It lifts to reveal the framed sandstone civic room, and can be lowered for security.
The net-zero carbon building uses passive design principles – solar power, energy storage, natural daylight, cross-ventilation.
SCA participated with Curious Practice in the two-stage design competition.
Generous gestures towards the public and city amplify the building’s performance delivering connection, community, conversation and celebration.
UON Alumni House Gallery
Plans
| Project info | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Sam Crawford, Jarad Grice, Shane Marshall, Janani Premchandh, Justin Pak |
| Consultants | Services Engineers – Northrop Landscape Architect – Aspect Studios Access Consultant – Morris Goding Access Consulting |
| Client | University of Newcastle |
| Photographer | Wayne Finucane, Virtual Vision & Curious Practice |
| Collaborating Practice | Curious Practice |
| Completion | 2020 |
What we do
Urban & Public
We design public buildings and civic spaces that foster community connection, cultural expression and a sense of belonging. From libraries to public domain projects, our work is shaped by purpose, context and collaboration. These are places designed for people, built to enrich the cities and neighbourhoods they sit within.
Discover moreMore Urban & Public Projects
Ewen Park Outdoor Learning Centre (OLC)
Sam Crawford Architects (SCA) and Sue Barnsley Design were engaged by Canterbury Bankstown Council to deliver a new…
Hurlstone Memorial Reserve Community Centre
A Y-shaped pavilion responds to the needs of place and people. A curved Y-shaped community pavilion connects with…