UNIVERSITY students will design a cultural and community hub for Lake Macquarie City Council at Speers Point Park.
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The architecture students, from the University of Newcastle, have been tasked with designing a landmark contemporary arts space for the city.
Researchers and students from the School of Architecture and Built Environment were this week presented with the design brief for the Speers Point Multi Arts Space.
It will comprise an arts pavilion that will provide “a flexible platform for cutting-edge multimedia exhibitions, contemporary installations, performance, music and community events”, a spokesperson for the council said.
The Multi Arts Space would be a “visually stunning building and a cultural and community hub” for the city.
Council’s cultural services manager, Jacqui Hemsley, said council was excited to be partnering with the uni on the project.
“The Speers Point Multi Arts Space will become a landmark for the city, activating Speers Point Park and creating a regional destination for artistic excellence and innovation,” Ms Hemsley said.
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“We want to harness the ambition and creativity within the university to create something that is architecturally stunning, innovative and unprecedented in this region.”
UON’s head of architecture, Dr Chris Tucker, said the project would provide students with valuable ‘real world’ experience.
“Design research is a critical and developing field within higher education – it’s a place where both education and practice actually meet,” Dr Tucker said.
“It enables us to think about architecture not just as buildings, but as a way of understanding our place in the world, our culture, and where the future might take us.”
Student designs will be judged on functionality, visual appeal and incorporation of sustainable building principles.
The winner will be announced on November 15.
The designs will be exhibited in the foyer of the council’s administration building at Speers Point from November 13 to December 13.
Tenders for the construction would be called in early 2019, the council said.