Project overview

The 1950’s Lewis Lecture Theatre was one of many unique and distinct buildings constructed on the University of New England’s Armidale Campus, reflecting the significant growth of the University and region. The building had undergone only minor refurbishment work prior to JCA being appointed to completely remodel and update the facility enabling greater usage and flexibility.

The existing theatre had been designed specifically for Physics, with the upgrade needing to cater for all science courses in addition to general teaching. The transformation of the spaces involved a series of user consultation meetings seeking to capture the needs of the various stakeholders. The concept aimed to salvage much of the unique character of the existing building and express the building’s history through new wall panelling within the main theatre. The completed project has significantly increased student and staff usage and extended the life of a unique building within the Campus.