A $74 million program of works will expand the University of Sydney’s architecture, design and planning precinct on its Camperdown campus, delivering a new teaching building and upgrades to existing facilities.
The university has received a $40 million donation from architectural alumni Susan and Garry Rothwell to help fund the construction of a new $50 million facility, the Rothwell Building. The new 2,000-square-metre building is planned to connect to the recently refurbished Wilkinson Building, from where architecture, design and planning classes have been taught for over six decades, including when the Rothwells were students.
The university will contribute an additional $34 million to the overall works.
University vice-chancellor and president Professor Mark Scott said the project will create an essential new space for learning, teaching and research. “This extraordinary gift continues that legacy of investment in the future of architecture in Australia. A new building on the Camperdown campus is also a wonderful gift to the university overall, and a welcome addition to the university’s landscape,” said Scott.
View gallery
According to the university, the Rothwell Building is expected to accommodate up to 300 students at a time. It is planned to include specially designed studios along with fabrication and collaborative learning spaces.
Following the announcement of the donation, the Rothwells said, “We hope this new building will enable and inspire the next generation of urban designers, architects and planners and influence how our cities evolve.”