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Design Construct

Design and Construct

A hands-on learning experience for students

Design and Construct is our nation-leading, hands-on construction learning experience offering project based opportunities to UniSA students of architecture and design. Running since 1993, it is one of the largest student construction learning experiences in the world and has produced a number of remarkable buildings, many of which have won awards.

By participating in Design and Construct, students will gain the kind of firsthand experience that can prepare them for professional life like nothing else. When it comes to applied design, considering client and community needs and working collaboratively with the building site in mind, it doesn't get much better than this.

Projects

Take a look at our projects and learn about the impact they had on the students involved and the communities they were built in.

Chris Steele Scott Pavilion, Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed the Chris Steele Scott Pavilion at Mount Lofty.

Fish River Aboriginal Ranger Accommodation

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed and helped to construct a Day Visitor and Search and Rescue Facility at Mt Franklin.

Mimili Single Men’s Housing

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed and helped to construct Single Men’s Housing for the Mimili Aboriginal Community.

Mt Franklin Visitor’s Shelter

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed a Day Visitor and Search and Rescue Facility at Mt Franklin.

Port Resolution Community Visitor Accommodation

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed and helped to construct visitor accommodation in the Port Resolution community, Vanuatu.

The Patjarr Visitor Centre

UniSA's Design Construct coursework teamed up with the Patjarr Aboriginal Community as they designed and helped to construct a visitor’s centre and gallery for this remote community.

Western Mining Corporation Visitor’s Centre

Learn how UniSA students gained hands-on experience in the Design Construct coursework as they designed and helped to construct a Visitor Centre at Wheal Hughes mine near Moonta.

The purpose-built facility, based at the Mawson Lakes campus, provides students with an unique opportunity to design and help to construct buildings for remote communities in Australia and overseas.

Tanna Island project

For nearly three decades, the Design and Construct has helped increase capacity and empower Aboriginal and First Nation communities in Australia and overseas through a range of collaborative design and construct projects. On Tanna Island in Vanuatu, the eco-tourism project helps this community to generate income to educate their children, retain ownership of their land and culture while creating replicable and sustainable tourist facilities for other ni-Vanuatu communities.

How students can get involved

When participating in Design and Construct coursework, students will be involved in all aspects of the project. This valuable process prepares them for professional life through hands-on involvement, including developing design proposals, collaborating with clients, and developing building and design documentation. Projects pass through several phases:

Design: students are briefed, survey sites, and produce design proposals
Design development: students undertake intensive courses, developing their designs in small groups
Planning and certification: student work with staff to respond to planning and certification requirements for their designs
Building: two-week pre-fabrication and fabrication sessions are run during semester breaks and, in some cases, students are also involved in on-site building.

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