Liam joined the UNSW Health Translation Hub project in 2020 toward the end of Concept Design, while he was completing his Master of Architecture at UTS. What began as a student role supporting the team with conceptual modelling grew into a designer position working on façade design, coordination and technical documentation.
Over several years, he followed the project through Schematic Design, the State Significant Development Application, Design Development and into Construction Documentation once a contractor was appointed. Here, he reflects on what it was like to start out on a major project, how his role fitted into the wider team, and what he learned along the way.
How did your work fit into the broader project team?
I joined the project while completing my Master of Architecture at UTS, so I was able to bring some of my university skills directly into practice. Early on, I used tools like Rhino and Grasshopper to test and refine façade design options and measure solar radiation and shading performance.
Over the subsequent phases, I helped translate this conceptual work into schematic drawings for the SSDA as well as authority and client approvals. As the project advanced, I was soon coordinating with engineers and contractors to develop construction details for the façade as the building rose from the ground.
What surprised you most about working on a project of this scale?
The physical scale! This is the largest project I’ve worked on, and in the early stages it can become quite “abstracted” on screen and paper – you can lose a sense of how big the building really is.
Once reinforcement started emerging from the ground, columns were poured and the floors began to stack up, it was genuinely awe-inspiring to see the building take shape and to understand the true scale of what we’d been drawing.
What’s one thing you learned from this project?
I learned a huge amount about façade detailing, procurement and the realities of buildability once construction starts. I began on the team doing quick conceptual modelling, and over a few years that shifted into coordinating with engineers and documenting construction details for the contractor.
Being able to inspect façade prototypes and then review the constructed work taught me a lot about how design documents are interpreted and how drawn details become a physical, built outcome.
What’s your favourite detail or moment in the finished building?
Walking into the foyer and standing beneath the atrium is an incredible moment. It’s a space where many aspects of the project come together.
The plaza sits just outside the café, and the public foyer draws people in. Students, researchers, health practitioners and patients are all passing through, so there’s a real sense of movement and exchange. From here you can see the bridges connecting the UNSW Health Translation Hub to the wider hospital and university precinct, reinforcing its link to the broader campus.
Looking up, the atrium opens into the building, the awning sweeps in and the façade folds into the interior. It’s one of those moments where the architecture, public realm and everyday life of the building all intersect.
Did being part of the UNSW Health Translation Hub change how you think about your future career in design/practice?
Absolutely. As a graduate, working on the UNSW Health Translation Hub has been especially valuable as I work toward architectural registration and prepare for the Architectural Practice Examination. Being involved in a project of this scale and complexity, from early design through to completion, has given me insight into the full life of a project and helped prepare me for the next stage of my architectural career.
What advice would you give students if they get the chance to work on projects of this scale?
Continuity on projects of this scale is super valuable. I was very fortunate to follow the UNSW Health Translation Hub from Concept Design almost through to completion.
Staying on the same project gave me exposure to a wide range of stakeholders, evolving priorities across different phases, and the chance to develop technical skills while holding the project’s history in mind. If you get the opportunity to stay with a large project over multiple stages early in your career, it’s one of the best ways to accelerate your learning.
Read more about the UNSW Health Translation Hub.