Striking Western Sydney University campus unveiled in Bankstown
Western Sydney University has opened its state-of-the-art Bankstown City Campus, with a building design that reimagines traditional learning environments transforming education and the region.
Developer Walker Corporation and Western Sydney University engaged Built in 2021 to construct the 18-storey tower, with more than 26,000 square meters of cutting-edge educational space.
Designed by Lyons, the base building harmoniously blends with the exquisite building design and fit-out by HDR. The distinctive block and stack architectural concept, coupled with multiple setbacks and rotations, gives the campus an instantly recognizable identity. The curtain wall façade, adorned with ten captivating shades of gold and red, culminates in an iconic landmark that proudly represents Bankstown.
The construction process presented a unique set of challenges, from the distinctive design of the building with its unique cantilever structure, to managing Covid restrictions and building through NSW’s wettest year on record.
Built Senior Project Engineer Hass Elneamy said that the design phase was critical for finding solutions to overcome challenges posed by the complex project.
“At the onset of the design phase we spent six months coordinating with our different trade partners to determine the best approach to ensure that the finished product would be installed within the required tolerances,” said Hass.
Urban transformation
Creating a cutting-edge learning environment
“The design presented a number of challenges. Due to the geometry of the building and the block and stack design, we had to restart the structure every time we reached a terrace, we needed to re-establish the scaffold, external edge protection and access ways. This required significant planning and coordination to ensure we managed this safely and efficiently,” concluded Hass.
The team persevered through the challenges to complete the complex build and fit out the building in conjunction with architects HDR for premium commercial office space and a cutting-edge learning campus.
“The reception from the wider community has been brilliant,” said Matthew Sinclair, Project Manager at Built.
“Everyone considers it to be the start of the regeneration of this area, so we’ve had incredible support from the council, external stakeholders, and even shop owners in the local community, they have all been looking forward to seeing this open in Bankstown,” concluded Matthew.
The Bankstown City campus is an integral part of Western Sydney University’s visionary ‘Western Growth’ strategy. This ambitious initiative aims to co-create cities and transformative educational infrastructure across western Sydney, in collaboration with industry and government. By attracting investment and jobs, boosting the local economy, and enhancing the quality of life for people in the region, this strategy seeks to create a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Together, Western Sydney University, Built and its partners are shaping the future of education and creating spaces that inspire generations to come in Western Sydney.
