Architects: JCY Architects and Urban Designers
Year: 2015
Photographs: Rob Ramsay
City: Bentley
Country: Australia
Wesfarmers Court at Curtin University, designed by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, is an educational space at Curtin University aimed at revitalizing the campus as part of the 2012 ‘Place Activation Plan.’ This plan identifies key areas needing enhancement to create a student-focused environment. Wesfarmers Court connects to the ‘Curtin Corso,’ serving as a gateway to the campus’s northern precinct. The project includes a steel-framed structure with an operable roof canopy, media screen, heaters, and feature lighting. Loose furniture allows versatile use for events and daily activities. Future stages will expand function areas, add landscaping, and incorporate pop-up retail outlets, fostering greater campus engagement.
Curtin University is undergoing significant changes and facing challenges in its future development and growth. Several planning documents have been created to guide the broader campus expansion, aiming to develop a student-focused environment. These plans are designed to attract students to study and engage in campus life, ensuring a balanced and enriching educational experience.
The ‘Place Activation Plan’ established in 2012 is central to implementing the campus’s place-led approach for revitalization. This plan aims to identify key areas within Curtin University that need revitalization, each contributing to the overall activation of the campus. It focuses on creating interconnected destinations that include physical changes, programmed and non-programmed events and activities, greater diversity, and an improved campus environment for staff, students, and visitors to enjoy.
Several key destinations across the campus have been identified to achieve place activation outcomes, all linked by the primary North-South internal pedestrian avenue, the ‘Curtin Corso’.
Wesfarmers Court was identified as one of the key destinations on campus, with a strong connection to the ‘Curtin Corso,’ the university’s business sector, and the ongoing development of the northern structure plan. This new northern precinct will serve as the gateway to the Curtin campus, enhancing connections to the main pedestrian avenues and the refurbished Wesfarmers Court area.
Wesfarmers Court is the first project completed within the Place Activation masterplan. The primary aim was to revitalize the courtyard, creating a flexible and adaptable space to showcase Curtin’s Business School activities. This project promotes greater utilization of the area, establishing it as the new gateway hub.
The project features a steel-framed structure situated between the Curtin Business School, Angazi Cafe, and the Lance Twomney Theatre. This expansive steel framework covers the entire courtyard, defining its function with perimeter perforated screens and a fully operable roof canopy that adapts to varying climatic conditions and seasonal changes. The structure includes a large media screen for events and presentations, heaters, feature lighting, and a ticker tape display loop for information and current news updates.
The space is equipped with various loose furniture, allowing it to function as a versatile area suitable for a wide range of events. It can accommodate weddings, networking events, music entertainment, outdoor lectures, presentations, and serve as a daily social hub for students.
Future stages of this precinct’s redevelopment will include demolishing two concrete classroom ‘pods’ under the Business School building. This will open up the northern vista and extend the ticker tape display loop, forming the northern gateway entry point of the ‘corso’ pedestrian avenue. Moreover, it will involve expanding function areas, landscaping, and introducing various pop-up retail outlets housed in shipping containers.
Introducing small pop-up retail outlets or a bar will encourage greater campus activation and extend the existing café’s trading hours. Nighttime activities, such as movie nights or musical performances, will promote student engagement, fostering a lively, active, and attractive learning environment.
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Project Location
Address: Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
