Sustainable Industries Education Centre
Sustainable Industries Education Centre
Client:
TAFE SA
Location:
Tonsley Park, SA
Status:
Built
Floor Area:
32 500 sqm
In Association:
MPH Architects
Contact Person:
Matthew Spinaze
Architectus, in association with MPH Architects created an iconic education destination and new identity for South Australian TAFE.
The Sustainable Industries Education Centre (SIEC) integrates sustainable architecture and educational pedagogy to achieve cohesive learning, teaching and social spaces and public interfaces. An amalgamation and centralisation of three separate, trade-training campuses into one consolidated facility located at Tonsley Park, SIEC occupies approximately one-third of the former Mitsubishi manufacturing plant.
Larger than the Adelaide Oval, with a footprint that exceeds 100 000 m2, the former industrial building was characterised by high, south-lit spaces, formed by a transverse truss and sawtooth roof truss system, all fabricated from small steel sections and supported on a regular 80 x 40 ft (24 x 12 m) steel column grid. As a primary design principle, the structure was retained, where possible. Individual ‘trade’ departments and autonomous areas are defined as new ‘containers’ within the pre-existing structural grid, so that both the new insertions and steel skeletal frame are visible – each enhanced and strengthened by contrast with the other.
Transparency at the ground plane is maximized, with visual connection into teaching spaces and workshops, to engage public interaction.
SIEC is greater than a simple, adaptive re-use project. The impressive scale of planning – more akin to the planning of a city block – is complemented by a progressive educational plan that transforms the mega industrial shed into creative opportunities for teaching, learning and innovation. Comfortable and habitable spaces accommodate increased interface with industry, flexibility and adaptability for future change.
Providing an exemplary educational facility, the project delivers a sustainable built outcome with efficiencies in operational and recurrent costs.
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Client:
TAFE SA
Location:
Tonsley Park, SA
Status:
Built
Floor Area:
32 500 sqm
In Association:
MPH Architects
Contact Person:
Matthew Spinaze
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects (SA), Interior Award, 2014
Australian Institute of Architects, National Sustainability Award, Finalist, 2014
CEFPI National Award, 2014
WAF, International Higher Education Award, Finalist, 2014
Key People
Matthew Spinaze
Senior Associate
Melbourne
Diana Rosenthal
Principal
Adelaide
Ruth Wilson
Principal
CCO
Sector Leader Public
Melbourne
