Many congratulations and our thanks to the client and project teams for three recent projects — Melbourne’s Trades Hall and Regent Theatre, and Melbourne University Old Quad redevelopment — all of which have been recognised in this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards, announced in a digital ceremony on 10 July.

[ image: Solidarity Hall, Trades Hall, Melbourne : Peter Glenane ]

The Trades Hall project won a Heritage Architecture – conservation award.

With the support of a grant from the government’s Living Heritage Program as well as Victorian Trades Hall Council and union funds, the splendid decorative scheme of the first Council Chamber has been reconstructed, and the present meeting room (Solidarity Hall) returned to its original orientation and classical debating chamber proportions. The works were part of an ongoing project at the Trades Hall (begun 1874), primarily focused on bringing the community into the building and helping make it relevant to the traditional users and community at large.

Trades Hall & Literary Institute (client), Irwinconsult (structural and fire engineer), Simpson Kotzman (services consultant), du Chateau Chun (building surveyor), PlanCost (quantity surveyor), Marshall Day (acoustic consultant), Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation (materials treatment investigation) and Multiplex (contractor)

[ image: Regent Theatre, Melbourne : Peter Glenane ]

The Regent Theatre project was awarded a Heritage Architecture – creative adaptation award.

Interventions at the Regent Theatre, with its vast auditorium and extraordinary interiors, were focused on sustaining its future as a working venue for international live theatre. Through replanning and structural alterations, operational flexibility and increased intimacy have been achieved with little visible impact. The full-width Dress Circle balcony has been moved 3.7m closer to the stage — a feat of engineering ingenuity by Irwinconsult. The stalls area has been re-raked, new seating installed in revised configurations, and two bars opened up in the auditorium at the rear of the stalls.

Marriner Group (client), Irwinconsult (structural and services engineer), Andrew Christofi & Associates (hydraulic consultant), Mendis Hanna & Associates (electrical consultant), Resonate (acoustic engineer), Schuler Shook (theatre consultant), Phillip Chun (building surveyor), Affinity Fire Engineering (fire engineer), Buckford Illumination Group (lighting consultant), Slattery Australia (quantity surveyor), Morris Goding Access Consulting (access consultant) and ICON (contractor)

[ image: Old Quad, the University of Melbourne : Eve Wilson ]

The Old Quad redevelopment project won a Sustainable Architecture award.

The Old Quad redevelopment project is the first application in Australia of the adaptive reuse model PassivHaus EnerPHit to a building of state significance. Our brief had emphasised a sustainable outcome based on meeting design equivalent to 4-star Green Star performance. Old Quad was the first university building to commence construction in Australia and is one of the campus’ most significant buildings. It is the subject of a Lovell Chen master plan (2015), and the redevelopment project is designed to re-establish its place at the centre of the University’s civic, cultural and ceremonial life.

The University of Melbourne (client), Irwinconsult (structural engineer), Umow Lai (services consultant and ESD), du Chateau Chun (building surveyor), Slattery (quantity surveyor), Aurecon (project manager), Glowing Structures (lighting consultant), Resonate (acoustic engineer), Chris Love Design (commercial kitchen design), Studio Semaphore (wayfinding and signage) and Kane Constructions (contractor)

The Victorian Architecture Awards are organised by the Australian Institute of Architects. This year’s winners were announced at a digital awards ceremony livestreamed on YouTube.

www.architecture.com.au