University of South Australia Great Hall Project

The purpose of the project was to construct a Sports, Cultural and Recreational Complex that could be reconfigurable to encompass a multi-purpose Great Hall for Exams, Graduations and Events. The multi-purpose hall was to be located partially underground, rising to form a Plaza and amphitheatre integrated with the adjacent Høj Plaza and Jeffrey Smart Building.

The facilities also had to contain a gym/fitness centre, pool, plenary spaces, back of house and storage and Audio Visual technologies were to be embedded in all indoor and outdoor facilities and provide for a multitude of functions.

The key objectives and success measures for this project were:

• To design and construct an architecturally expressive and functionally exemplary Great Hall for sports, graduations and exams that transforms the student experience at City West campus.
• To consolidate vibrant activities creating a campus heart including a large open lawn area.
• To provide facilities where whole of University life is celebrated.
• To provide drawcard facilities for the community, connecting the Health and Biomedical Precinct with the West End and Hindley Street in particular.
• To provide a first class venue seen as suitable to hold some of Adelaide’s cultural and community events.
• To make a positive and enduring contribution to the precinct, and leverage the value of other developments underway.

• To achieve a 5 Star Green Star rating.