Recognition for Ballarat Campus buildings

Two Ballarat Campus buildings were recognised at the prestigious National Trust Ballarat Branch Heritage Awards this month.

The Catherine of Siena Centre was awarded first prize in the Adaptive Reuse of a Heritage Place category, while the St Thomas Aquinas Chapel was awarded first prize in the New Work/Development within a Heritage Place category.

The Catherine of Siena Centre also received a special commendation in the New Work/Development within a Heritage Place category.

Ballarat Campus Dean Associate Professor Joe Fleming said the award ceremony had been a very exciting evening and the success was recognition of the work of many people, including architects, builders and the ACU staff who managed the projects, Stephen Zaczkiewcz, John Kouris and Laura Baker.

“I am so proud of this public and prestigious recognition of two fine buildings and want to offer my thanks to all involved,” Associate Professor Fleming said.

“Next year I hope that the St Brigid Health Sciences building will also be a finalist in these awards.”

The Catherine of Siena Centre combines four heritage houses, with heritage frontage retained on Ripon Street and a modern façade fronting onto the campus itself.

The building, designed by Morton Dunn architects and built by Page Construction, provides an office, meeting and video conference facilities, a full kitchen and an entertaining area for the Schools of Education and Arts and Theology and Philosophy.

A full renovation of the St Thomas Aquinas Chapel was completed last year by chapel architect Jesse Mowbray, and builders Page Construction, with construction overseen by Morton-Dunn architects.