Woods Bagot win a World Architecture News Award for Tonsley

Renewal SA’s Tonsley redevelopment has won the 2015 World Architecture News (WAN) Award for Adaptive Reuse. Over 60 projects were entered from around the world, with Tonsley the only project from Australia in the final six. 

Woods Bagot Director Thomas Masullo said the win was testament to Woods Bagot’s commitment to design excellence.

“Woods Bagot is delighted to be recognised for this globally significant award. In Adelaide, as across the global studio, we underpin our work with thorough research and methodical processes that ensure world-class design outcomes, of which Tonsley is exemplar.”

Prior to the announcement made on Tuesday 19^th January 2016 (UK time), Thomas said Tonsley will continue to raise the State’s profile globally.

“The Tonsley redevelopment represents another South Australian project that is world class in its ambitions, setting a new benchmark for sustainable urban regeneration projects. Tonsley has created an environment that fosters innovation co-located with industry, universities, TAFE and SME’s – it is a symbol of the knowledge economy.”

Designed by Woods Bagot & Tridente Architects, the Tonsley Main Assembly Building (MAB) and Pods is an interconnected and intelligent mixed use precinct. Whilst respecting the structure of the MAB in its current form, Woods Bagot & Tridente Architects worked closely with Renewal SA to create a comprehensive design for the adaptive re-use which celebrates the industrial heritage of the building and creates a unique destination and contemporary public space. Within the MAB, the tenancies use a ‘pod’ approach that is adaptable, flexible and highly functional.

Computer modelling was been carried out to align appropriate daylight levels, thermal and acoustic performance by allocating a specific ratio of solid panels, transparent panels and openings to each space typology. The project team also utilised Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling to derive façade and roof permeability for optimal cross ventilation for user comfort throughout the year.

Woods Bagot Principal and design leader Gavin Kain said the design took a transformative approach, repurposing the MAB as the hub of an innovative living and working community.

“From day one we had a choice with our approach to develop Tonsley. The easy option was to follow the typical industrial park approach, which would have had limited value to the industry and the wider community. Instead we took the alternative, which was to imagine a thriving community within the significant industrial remains of the Tonsley site,” he said.

The jury remarked that Woods Bagot & Tridente Architects  winning design identified benefits to retaining the existing structure, resulting in an urban renewal project without precedent.

“Our brief was to create an environment that would support new manufacturing employment in Adelaide. At the outset it was clear that the only way this would be possible was to deliver a structure that would support a community: a mixed use precinct that will evolve over time while maintaining connectivity to the past,” said Gavin.

“The reuse and adaption of the Main Assembly Building was core to this idea: the design has facilitated a place that the community is connected to, that supports collaboration and is unique. Our client, Renewal SA, understood that we had a truly collaborative team that would enable us to realise their vision. In a way, the project is the start of the innovative culture for Tonsley, and on the broader scale, Adelaide”.

Sustainability was paramount for the MAB with a planned 3 megawatt solar array on the roof producing affordable, sustainable energy for tenants and communications infrastructure providing connected technology as a basis for a Smart Grid Energy system. Four urban forests inside the MAB provide naturally shaded green spaces, cool the air and reduce the sun’s thermal load on the roof.

Woods Bagot Project Leader Milos Milutinovic explains the benefit of repurposing the site.

“Our choice to retain and rejuvenate some 50,000m2 of existing roof structure has saved approximately 90,000 tons of carbon which is equivalent to taking 25,000 average cars off the road for one year”.

Tridente Architects Director Nick Tridente says “Tonsley demonstrates the strength of the nesting of ideas and the importance of a framework which encourages learning, diversity, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

“It is a unique rich canvas which interrogates the norm and promotes a new way of working.”

Renewal SA Tonsley Project Director, Richard McLachlan, says quality design has been a primary consideration in Tonsley’s development.

“Our focus has been on delivering an inclusive destination for people and businesses, where quality design and sustainability is the cornerstone for the intelligent mixed use precinct.

“Tonsley’s design excellence has been acknowledged with a series of awards, including the Six-Star Green Star – Communities accreditation, which is an unprecedented milestone for urban development in South Australia.

“Tonsley is Australia’s only urban renewal development to achieve this level of certification. It is a testament to the world-class design principles that have guided the redevelopment of what was a former automotive manufacturing site”, he said

For more information please visit the WAN website