The WAFX award recognises the world’s most forward-looking architectural concepts, presented to future projects that identify key challenges that architects will need to address in the coming years. Winners have been selected for their demonstration of excellence in addressing the issues facing architecture, society and the planet more broadly.  

Designed by Woods Bagot, the University of Tasmania Forestry Building has won the WAFX award in the Building Technology category, demonstrating cutting-edge design solutions to issues of climate change and community resilience.

“We strived to create a campus – not a building – through a masterplan that features a collection of diverse and rich interstitial spaces to meet the disparate needs of the university,” says Woods Bagot Director Bruno Mendes, who leads the project. “Working with ‘found conditions’, we have strived to emphasise the existing and let that drive the conceptual direction of the new.”

“In designing this campus, we’ve considered how it will endure and evolve over time to respond to the ever-changing landscape of learning and teaching spaces,” continues Mendes. “To cater for this, we have created a large, free-spanning waffle timber structure to allow for spaces to flex and adapt. Partitions can be removed and modular furniture systems can be reconfigured to meet changing needs and ensure the building’s ongoing relevance and adaptability.”

“The campus design identifies with each of the unique disciplines it houses,” adds Woods Bagot Director and Global Education Sector Leader Sarah Ball. “New functional elements are inserted within the existing built elements to create a cohesive learning landscape, organised into six discrete typologies: focused study zones, ‘alone together’ spaces, public collaboration areas, private collaboration areas, relaxation quarters, and places for meeting others.”

As an example of mass timber construction, adaptive reuse, and the largest commercial use of hempcrete in Australia, the new campus combines a number of innovative and experimental approaches to resilient and sustainable design while restoring and reviving an iconic piece of local heritage.

“The building itself will operate as an education tool through the inclusion of interpretative signage will highlight the materials and construction methods that underpin the sustainable design,” says Ball. 

As the number one university in climate action globally, the University of Tasmania set a strong imperative for industry-leading sustainability targets on the project. Aspiring to 40 percent less embodied carbon than comparable buildings, the project team has adopted a comprehensively circular strategy to building materials. This means material recovery where possible; the elimination of carbon-intensive materials; and the introduction of sustainable materials.

The project builds on the 1997 structure by Morris-Nunn and Associates: a 22-metre dome-shaped conservatory made from large Oregon and hardwood trusses. Through adaptive reuse, the project team is retaining 40 percent of the existing architecture onsite, making it exemplary in its reuse and recycling of existing materials and features to not only retain history and heritage but reduce the environmental impacts of construction.

“We are reinstating the indoor urban forest that previously stood beneath the glass dome,” says Mendes. “The completed campus will be a unified response to architecture and landscape, expertly weaving together the built and natural environment.”

Taking a considered approach to materials selection, the project team has eliminated materials that do not provide sufficient value (dematerialisation), while remaining materials have been considered for their longevity, adaptability, flexibility, disassembly and reusability. With sustainability engineers Arup, the project team has conducted a detailed lifecycle assessment measuring both upfront and embodied carbon, tracking output from first day of construction due to its eventual removal at end-of-life.

New materials have been selected for their provenance and sustainability, from the timber studwork to the recycled-content carpets. Hempcrete – a carbon-negative construction material and biocomposite – has played a major role in the interior fitout as a highly sustainable construction material. At practical completion, the Forestry Building will be the largest example of a commercial use of hempcrete in Australia.

“The University is delighted the Forestry redevelopment has been recognised on the world stage for its advances in building technology which will support the sustainable future we are working to create as the number one university in the world on climate action,” Professor Nicholas Farrelly University of Tasmania Pro Vice-Chancellor for Campus Life South.

“The Forestry building will be an important hub of learning and research for greater Hobart and we look forward to welcoming students, staff and the community to this special place in 2026 for a truly world-class higher education experience.” 

Alongside the WAFX award, the University of Tasmania Forestry Building is also one of 13 projects shortlisted in the Future Projects: Education and Research category.

WAFX winner presentations will take place on 6 and 7 November at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. View the Woods Bagot projects shortlisted for WAF and Inside.  

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Isla Sutherland
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