Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The University of Sydney’s new Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) aims to imbue the transformation of Australia’s oldest university campus into a 21st century campus through a timeless expression of connection, collaboration, community, art and heritage. The project is a new faculty building for the Schools of Social Science/ Political Science and Economics adjacent to a refurbishment of the heritage RD Watt Building. Underlying design principles for the FASS building are: integration of landscape and heritage context, environmental and social sustainability; activation of ground plane; integration of new teaching, learning and academic workplace environments, and expression of contemporary identity of faculty and campus. The FASS building is on a constrained site and expresses a contemporary identity to the Parramatta Road public domain, while presenting inwardly as a respectful backdrop building set in its landscape context. The building form mediates between the dual alignments of the adjacent Heydon Laurence building and future Life Sciences precinct. Double height entry spaces are carved out of the building form to connect both buildings, provide social activation, acoustic shelter and daylight access to the enclosed upper and lower landscaped courtyards, designed by Oculus, which offer precinct amenity to students and academics. The granite plinth, which lowers and rises to accommodate level changes and moderate solar access, runs through the building and slopes down the façade to the lower entry, subtly referencing the stone, creek and gully landscape of the former aboriginal owned Orphan School Creek. Culturally connecting the historical significance, traditional owners and faculty is a public artwork deeply etched in the granite façade by Aboriginal artist Robert Andrew, entitled: “GARABARA”. Garabara, or corroboree is an Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony or lively social gathering, to tell stories and pass on knowledge; an important aspect of indigenous culture. The innovative, low-maintenance glass facade, a first in Australia, is a sophisticated high-performance curtain wall with bronze anodized framing and vertical emphasis. Its highly insulated facade is given singular expression with a dynamic optical effect created by a metallic bronze coated interstitial fabric mesh, laminated into the glass, which responds to light in a variable way, as a contemporary reference to the stone and masonry materiality of RD Watt and wider campus. Internally, the building is designed to foster social sustainability through collaboration and a sense of community between students and academics. A large central atrium and feature staircase connects the lower two teaching and learning levels, with upper level academic and professional workspaces to enhance social interactions. The FASS building achieves University of Sydney Silver sustainability rating, equivalent to 5 Star Green Star through an integrated design incorporating key sustainability features including high energy performance façade, solar energy capture and re-use, rainwater recycling, end of trip facilities and sustainable materials. The RD Watt brief included restoration to its original plan and external façade and sympathetic transformation of internal spaces into a 21st century facility. The design principles included removal the previous alterations and giving new internal expression to existing heritage roof structure and sandstone features.