The University’s Forestry building in Hobart and River’s Edge building at Inveresk have received national and international recognition at two prestigious award events held in November.
Competing against 12 other finalists from around the globe, Forestry was crowned the winner of the Future Project: Education category at the World Architecture Festival Awards held in Singapore between 6 – 8 November.
The festival brings together architects and designers each year for a multiple-day program where teams present their shortlisted projects live to judges and audiences.
The Forestry building is undergoing restoration to become a modern, inner-city learning centre that will serve the greater Hobart community when it opens in 2026.
Project lead Woods Bagot’s redesign honours the site’s existing conditions, including the 1997 dome designed by Morris-Nunn and Associates. With construction helmed by Hansen Yuncken, the team is restoring the dome, and through adaptive reuse, is reimagining the site as a dynamic learning hub.
“It’s a testament to the University, who really drove the sustainability agenda,” said Bruno Mendes, Director at Woods Bagot. “This project is what it is because of the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to the best environmental outcomes.”
Once complete, Forestry will be a centrepiece of sustainability hosting features that include a reinstated native forest, along with modern and accessible learning facilities including technology-equipped classrooms and welcoming public spaces.
Professor Nicholas Farrelly, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Campus Life (South) said the University was thrilled to learn Forestry was among the world’s best future projects.
It is the second time the site has won an international award this year, announced as a recipient of the World Architecture Festival Building Technology category in July.
“The University is proud that Forestry has been recognised as the stand-out future project when it comes to educational design. It will be a truly special place in the heart of the city when it opens to our students, staff and community,” Professor Farrelly said.
The University’s River’s Edge building, which forms part of the expanded Inveresk campus in Launceston, has also been acknowledged for its leading educational design.
On Thursday, 7 November, it was named a winning project at the 2024 Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) National Awards during an event in Adelaide.
Held annually, the awards recognise design excellence and projects that positively contribute to communities across Australia and abroad.
Designed by Wardle and built by Fairbrother, River’s Edge, received the Daryl Jackson award in the Educational architecture category.
The jury citation describes the campus building as having embraced the site’s heritage, present-day surrounds and distinctive design elements to offer an outstanding and welcoming learning setting.
“Classrooms are distinguished with excellent acoustic performance, research offices with natural light and views, and meeting spaces with a sense of warmth and texture – meaning that what could have felt like a generic institutional building is instead full of idiosyncrasy and moments of joy,” the jury citation said.
“Informed by careful and respectful consultation with First Nations stakeholders, and with a serious consideration of sustainable materials and manufacturing, River’s Edge Building has a language that is inventive and entirely assured, creating an uncommonly fine piece of tertiary educational architecture.”
Earlier this year, the building received the ‘Sydney Blythe Award for Educational architecture’ and the ‘Sustainable architecture’ award at the AIA 2024 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.
Professor Natalie Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Launceston) said River's Edge now hosts teaching activities across Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Education and Business, along with a range of student support services.
“It is so rewarding seeing how the local community has embraced this building, not just a site of learning and higher education, but also as a place where they can gather and connect,” Professor Brown said.
Justin Hanlon, Director of Capital Works for the University said the awards were a credit to everyone who had helped bring both projects to fruition.
“The awards speak to the collective efforts of many teams from across the community and University which has helped shape these campus buildings in ways that are unique to the communities that host them,” Justin said.
River’s Edge was the second of three new buildings to be opened at Inveresk as part of the Northern Transformation Program – a partnership between local, State and Federal Governments and the University to increase access to higher education and learning outcomes.
