Wintec’s R Block was originally a trades training building constructed in a typical industrial manner with large open spaces and extensive roof south-lighting. These qualities allowed the Wintec School of Media Arts to easily adapt the building as studio and teaching space.
The roof south-lights provided excellent natural lighting of the studios but were prone to leaks, and the solid construction of the building cut off any connection to the street outside.
In 2010 MOAA were engaged to address the leaking roof and lack of street engagement. The design involved placing a translucent canopy roof over the existing roof to stop leaks while still providing good natural lighting to the studios.
To open the building up, large glazed areas were inserted along the Collingwood St façade. New hard and soft landscaping was placed in the zone between the building and footpath. The overall result is a clear visual and physical connection between the School of Media Arts and the surrounding urban spaces.
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