Project Details

As a direct result of the success and popularity of LatStudios’ designed the Residents Green project, the University of Queensland (UQ) commissioned LatStudios to prepare designs for the repurposing of the existing Printery building and adjacent vacant land across the road from the Residents Green site.

The existing Printery building had been unused for some years and had fallen into disrepair. LatStudios presented the University with the opportunity to explore maximising the potential of this structure through repurposing it to deliver much needed shade and deliver additional student amenity and outdoor learning space in the short to medium term, with future uses already identified for new educational buildings on  the site.

LatStudios identified the opportunity to create outdoor amenity, social gathering and learning spaces that could be delivered within a modest budget, given the future plans for redevelopment of the site. Project challenges included, the opening up of the shell of the existing  building whist maintaining structural stability, addressing significant level changes across the site and accommodating large overland flow conditions to the external areas.

The resulting designs respect and preserve the industrial DNA and emblematic sawtooth roof of the existing building whilst opening this structure up to create a pavilion that provides shade and multiple use spaces for events, indoor/outdoor learning and recreational gathering. Long study benches look over the reimagined landscape that accommodates, a dry creek bed expressing the historic path of water in the  landscape, a central lawn, native grass planting and a focal sculptural seat and meeting place. New seating ‘rooms’ were also integrated into the building accessed off a new internal ramp which addressed the level change across the site.  

Benefits of LatStudios' design:

• Repurposes an existing University asset that breathes new life into the old Printery building
• Creates new student outdoor learning and study spaces at minimal cost to the client
• Integrates adaptable furniture that can be relocated when the site is eventually redeveloped
• Minimises building works to preserve the industrial identity of the existing building
• Maximises year-round functionality of the building with extensive openings for passive ventilation supplemented by large industrial ceiling fans
• Creates new outdoor landscaped recreation and meeting spaces for the students adjacent to the living precinct, and as a visual outlook from surrounding buildings
• Enhances broader campus accessibility through accessible connections integrated within the site