New Project Release: The Chancellery WSU

15.03.16

New Chancellery for an internationally focussed Australian University: Meeting Place, Workspace & Art Gallery

Allen Jack+Cottier’s sophisticated new fit-out for The Chancellery at Western Sydney University (WSU) takes workspace design to another level. It is an uplifting, inspiring and active hub with sharp, clean lines, warm native timber, subtle lighting, beautiful artworks and contemporary furniture. This part administrative office, gallery, and meeting place has been designed to reflect the Chancellery’s pivotal role within the university, and its growing presence in the international academic community.

Director (Architecture + Interiors) Scott Norton, who led the design team speaks of AJ+C’s approach, “Our starting point with good workplace design is that it has to work at a practical level, whilst reflecting the vision and aspiration of our client. In this case, we were very fortunate that the Vice Chancellor clearly understood the value of good design.”

The space is centrally sited in the WSU Parramatta campus, occupying a floor with eastern, northern and western facades, affording district views over the campus green and beyond. “Working with a building with low floor to ceiling heights of 2.4m and a requirement to maintain all the existing infrastructure and services was very challenging. As was controlling the balance of natural and artificial light. But this generated the most innovative solutions and the result is an elegant interior that works well functionally, and feels very special.” – Scott.

It was important for public and private spaces to be clearly delineated. To achieve this, AJ+C created an undulating timber wall, clad in timber battens, running the length of the fitout. On one side are the public spaces, the other private. Visitors to the space have free access within the public areas creating an open and collaborative atmosphere. The public spaces make up a large proportion of the floor area recognising the importance of the Chancellery’s relationships at many levels.