The new auditorium at The University of Queensland's Ipswich Campus has won a major award for public architecture.
The State Award for Public Architecture was presented to the project's architects, Wilson Architects at the Australian Institute of Architects annual Queensland State Architecture Awards held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre late last month (22 June 2012).
The $5.045 million auditorium stands at the main entrance to the campus and combines the red bricks, which characterise the historic buildings on the site with a splash of colour from its vivid green glass frontage.
It seats 352 and is equipped with the latest audiovisual and video conferencing technology.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Rix said the auditorium’s design was in keeping with the heritage features of the campus while ensuring students and the community had access to the latest technology.
“Being the largest raked theatre in central Ipswich this facility greatly benefits the students on campus by becoming the largest teaching space and is also available for the Ipswich Community to consider when planning their events and conference, a number of which have already been held,” Professor Rix said.
The auditorium, which was opened in December 2011, has already won The 2011 Amex Corporation Gold Design Award at the Ipswich City Council Awards for Excellence and the 2012 William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year at the Darling Downs Regional Architecture Awards.
The project will now be placed in the competition for the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards to be held in Perth in November 2012.
Media: Jessica Freiberg, Marketing and Development Manager, UQ Ipswich Campus – 0421 587 278, (07) 3381 1068 or j.freiberg@uq.edu.au
