The University of Tasmania's innovative new building known as 'The Shed' has received the 2025 National Award for Educational Architecture, marking another significant achievement in the ongoing collaboration between the university and architectural firm Wardle. The award recognizes the building's exceptional design and its contribution to educational architecture in Australia.
According to the jury citation, The Shed represents a continuation of the important body of work that Wardle has produced for the University of Tasmania over the past decade. This elegant structure serves a crucial role in connecting the Inveresk precinct to the edge of Launceston city, providing an important physical link and establishing a strong presence for the university in the central business district. The building's strategic location helps bridge the gap between the academic campus and the urban center.
The architectural design showcases innovative and sustainable construction methods, as the building was specifically designed for disassembly. This sprawling learning and teaching facility is organized around a dramatic deep atrium that extends upward toward an industrial articulated-timber-lined roof. This design feature effectively channels natural light into the depths of the building's floor plan, creating bright and inviting spaces for education. The structure houses a broad range of academic disciplines within a robust architectural framework that emphasizes transparency and facilitates educational aspirations.
A key aspect of the project involved Wardle's close collaboration with local manufacturers and suppliers, creating genuine opportunities to innovate and showcase Tasmanian materials and products throughout the building's construction. This approach not only supported the local economy but also demonstrated the quality and versatility of regional resources. The architectural firm's ongoing commitment to the University of Tasmania is clearly manifested in this confident and sensitive building, which reflects the underlying strength of the long-term relationship between architect and client.
The Shed is located in Invermay, Tasmania, on Palawa Country and was reviewed by Ross Brewin in Architecture Australia's March/April 2025 issue. The comprehensive project team included architect John Wardle leading a diverse group of professionals: James Loder, Minnie Cade, Kristina Levenko, Ricardo Hernandez, Sam Clegg, Cassandra Tom, Eric Nakajima, Mike Macauley, Belinda Au, Alex Biernacki, Malisa Benjamins, Chloe Lanser, Berenice Mellis, and Jeff Arnold.
The construction and technical aspects of the project involved numerous specialized consultants and contractors. Fairbrother served as the primary builder, while Integral Group handled audiovisual systems, building services, communications, electrical work, environmental sustainable design, fire protection, hydraulics, mechanical systems, and security. Gandy and Roberts provided civil and structural engineering expertise, Aspect Studios contributed landscape consultation, and WSP handled facade engineering. Additional specialists included Marshall Day for acoustic consulting, Lee Tyers as building surveyor, Ireneinc for town planning, and Slattery for quantity surveying.
The project's commitment to accessibility and user experience was demonstrated through the involvement of Equality Building as accessibility consultant and Studio Semaphore for wayfinding design. Technical consulting was provided by multiple firms including Umow and Wooster for audiovisual and security systems, MEL Consultants and Vipac for wind consulting, Geo-Environmental Solutions for geotechnical expertise, Castellan Consulting for fire engineering, and ESTAS for services consultation. The award was published online on November 6, 2025, as part of the 2025 National Architecture Awards, with photography by John Gollings featured in Architecture Australia's November 2025 issue.
