Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide

For almost 50 years the Ligertwood building at the University of Adelaide has been the home for the Adelaide Law School, the second oldest Law school in Australia. The brief for the project was to create a more student friendly and ‘progressive’ environment whilst still maintaining an upmarket and corporate presence.

The fitout was carried out over the ground floor and the fifth floor and involved some minor fitout works to Levels 2, 3 and 4.

The design philosophy for the fitout drew inspiration from the distinctive architectural features of the Ligertwood Building: its defining angled entrance canopy and recessed hexagonal fenestration façade patterning.

For the ground floor, the existing ceiling was removed and the structure exposed and painted out black. Dropped ceiling features were added to delineate separate zones and functional areas and to add visual interest. The main access corridor was visually reduced in length by incorporating two coloured transition zones. Overall the space is very popular with the law students, largely as a result of the informal and relaxed atmosphere.

The main space of the fifth floor has been designed to be opened up to accommodate large gatherings and functions. The walls to the teaching spaces consist of large sliding glass panels that open up to the central kitchen space, enabling maximum flexibility for operating both teaching and function areas.

The executive suite is also located on this level, accessed via secure automatic glazed doors. Whilst consistent with the design of the Level 5 teaching space, the executive offices have a more formal, structured feel with a more restrained colour and materials palette: the overall aesthetic not dissimilar to a progressive  and contemporary legal office fitout.