The project brief is to design a new School of Architecture on the existing Wentworth Building site, located at the corner of City Road and Butlin Avenue in Sydney, Australia, on Gadigal Country of the Eora Nation. The brief acknowledges the Gadigal people as the Traditional Owners of the land and recognizes the ongoing cultural, social, and environmental significance of Country. The project is expected to approach architectural education with respect for Country, culture, and community.
Rethinking The Future Awards 2026
First Award | Student – Institutional (Concept)
Project Name: The Vertical Spine: From Ground to Sky
Category: Student – Institutional (Concept)
Studio Name: University of Sydney
Design Team: Lalitpat Chomchoei
Area: Approx. 25,000 sqm (GFA)
Year: 2025
Location: Gadical Country of the Eora Nation, Sydney, Australia
Consultants: N/A
Photography Credits: Lalitpat Chomchoei
Render Credits: Lalitpat Chomchoei
Other Credits: N/A
The site occupies a prominent position along City Road, a major urban street with significant traffic movement and a nearby bus stop, while remaining closely connected to the university campus and surrounding academic buildings, including the JFR Building. Across City Road lies Eastern Avenue, one of the university’s primary pedestrian routes. The brief recognizes the importance of pedestrian movement and social interaction within the campus and encourages strategies that extend the pedestrian character of Eastern Avenue into the site. The interface between the busy street and the academic environment should be carefully considered, including the provision of outdoor spaces that support gathering, transition, and informal use.
The School of Architecture is required to accommodate a diverse range of academic, teaching, research, and support functions. These include design studios, lecture and seminar spaces, galleries, student Homebase areas, teaching and research laboratories, academic and professional staff offices, shared workspaces, amenities, building services, and support spaces. Retail or café functions may be included where they support campus life and activate the ground level. The building should function effectively as a contemporary architecture school, supporting the daily use, comfort, and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors.
The brief responds to contemporary architectural education by encouraging flexible and adaptable spaces that support different modes of learning, including collaboration, independent study, critique, and public engagement. Opportunities for interaction between students, staff, industry, and the wider community should be considered, including spaces suitable for exhibitions, reviews, and public events.
Environmental performance, sustainability, and building services form key considerations within the brief. The project is expected to respond to site-specific environmental conditions such as daylight access, noise from City Road, and solar exposure, while integrating appropriate strategies for comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term building performance. Structural systems, construction approaches, and facade strategies should be considered at a conceptual level and developed through the design process.
Overall, the brief seeks a well-integrated proposal for a mid-rise institutional building that respects Country and culture, supports architectural education, functions effectively for its users, and responds thoughtfully to its urban and campus context.
