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Media Release

June 15 2009

Architecture accolades go to UniSA

UniSA's award winning Hawke Building at its City West campus.The University of South Australia’s contribution to rejuvenating Adelaide has been recognised by the SA Branch of the Australian Institute of Architects.
 
On Friday night (12 June), UniSA won the Sir James Irwin President’s Medal at the SA branch of the Australian Institute of Architects annual awards for its significant role in rejuvenating Adelaide through collaborative development at its City East, City West, Magill and Mawson Lakes campuses, and its contribution to architecture in South Australia.
 
SA President of the Institute, Timothy Horton, said for only the second time since the award inception in 1992, the Medal has gone to a client organisation rather than a distinguished architecture practitioner.
 
“The Facilities Management Unit at UniSA has shown a consistent commitment to the highest standards of design procurement and exemplary terms of engagement,” Mr Horton said.
 
“Underpinning this is the University’s acceptance as an article of faith that architectural design should be integrated into the business, the brand and the strategic planning of an organisation.
 
“Through its Blueprint program, the University has invested in the City West precinct and driven a rejuvenation of our city. This rejuvenation provides a vision for a confident city focused on education and research within a contemporary physical environment.
 
“At its Mawson Lakes campus, new research centres are being strongly driven by architectural solutions.”

Along with the President's Medal, restoration work on UniSA's Brookman Building at City East won Adelaide company Grieve Gillet Pty Ltd an award in the Heritage category.
 
Meanwhile, just one week earlier, UniSA’s Hawke Building at the City West campus was named the SA winner of the 2009 Property Council / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards, and was a finalist for the Property Council’s national award.
 
The building, completed in 2007 and already applauded with several awards, was cited as a significant public building through being a place for meeting and learning, for participation by the public and students in intellectual/artistic stimulation and for delight in majestic architecture.
 
UniSA’s Executive Director of Finances and Resources, Paul Beard, said the awards are a much appreciated testament to the completion of more than a decade of work and an investment of more than $300m in the University’s facilities.
 
“The Facilities Management Unit at UniSA has worked very closely with our architects to create open spaces that give life and vibrancy to our campuses and to Adelaide,” Mr Beard said.
 
“These awards are a great acknowledgement of UniSA’s ongoing commitment to working collaboratively with all sections of the building industry including architects, engineers, cost consultants and builders.”


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