An exciting opportunity to repurpose a stock sale in the beautiful rural setting of University of Queensland’s Gatton campus into a state of the art, 300 seat lecture theatre and 60 seat seminar room on a tight budget required some innovative and lateral thinking.

The final built form is created by gently teasing the edges, respecting the original building and marry gently with the agricultural landscape and architecture. The interiors complex, asymmetrical and multi-level volume created a real challenge, solved by connecting the lower and upper levels with a ramping pedestrian spine and a dynamic theatre space.

The result provides much needed lecture space to the campus. As a destination, situated away from the main campus the theatre’s main entry is nestled under a large verandah reminiscent of vernacular architecture with a beautiful forecourt, nestled under a wonderful old tree and boasting views across the university paddocks to the mountains beyond. Upon entry, natural light floods the foyer and the spine provides clearly delineated pedestrian and visual connection to the activities within.