University of New South Wales Law Building / Lyons

Architects: Lyons
Location: Kensignton Campus, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
Project area: 12,000 sqm
Project year: 2006
Photographs: John Gollings Photography

The Faculty of Law building is a new addition to the University of New South Wales’ Kensington campus and delivers a new and innovative learning and research facility for the University’s Faculty of Law and Taxation.

Located on a high profile site on University Mall, the new 11,500 sqm four level building reflects the pedagogical model of this School of Law and through its form contributes to the urban definition of the landscaped Mall space.

The building has been designed as a low rise structure to promote maximum interactivity between occupants in the building – staff, students and visitors. The building also provides strong connections back to the broader campus and to the public realm beyond.

Light filled atria spaces, open staircases and landscaped courtyard spaces enhance this visual interconnectivity, providing a high amenity work and study environment for Law and University users.

The design is structured around a central ‘agora’ space which connects all levels of the building and provides a place for formal and informal meeting and exchange.

The Law library, located over two levels, is the symbolic and functional heart of the new building. This daylit space allows students and academic staff to study and undertake research in a purpose designed setting overlooking the treed environment of University Mall.

The ground floor includes a 350 seat auditorium and two horseshoe shaped learning spaces for formal and discursive learning. Other teaching spaces include flexible, flat floor spaces with movable disking and seating to reflect a variety of pedagogical models and learning styles.

Externally the building presents a distinctive ‘pavilion’ form to University Mall with a single folded wall and roof profile. This form reflects one of the principal concepts for the new building – ‘one Faculty, one building’.

The building embodies a range of environmentally sustainable initiatives including mixed mode air-conditioning to the office spaces, selection of materials and finishes for low embodied energy and engineering systems and architectural design features which minimise energy consumption.

The building represents new thinking in Law School design. As a contemporary and progressive building it supports and enhances the learning and research work of the School and provides a flexible long term asset for the University.