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In 2020, Swanbury Penglase was engaged by UniSA to completely reinvent 9 Light Square, Adelaide as a workplace hub.

With a rich history in the west end of the city, 9 Light Square had many previous lives including a skins and hides warehouse, the ‘Dutch Club’, Le Rox Nightclub and the Night Train Theatre Restaurant.

Our disciplines of Architecture, Interior Architecture and Heritage worked in strong collaboration on this adaptive reuse project, finding the balance between discovering and celebrating the building’s unique history and modernising it to become a place of enterprise and innovation.

Across two levels, the Enterprise Hub accommodates over 100 people in a variety of dynamic working settings to support the cross-pollination of business groups and ideas, to foster connections and partnerships that may not have been obvious. Spaces are flexible and adaptable to support the changing needs of the users and include incubation suites, agile co-working hubs, workshops and open plan work areas.

The project also included a complete building analysis and services and safety upgrade to create a habitable place ready for occupation and maintain this important and historic site into the future.

Our business is all about our people as well as for those who come together on our projects to create and innovate.

It was important for us to create a comfortable space for our staff and an inviting space for our clients. Staff spoke about the need for our new home to celebrate what we stand for; it needed to be transparent, authentic and collaborative. These aspirational objectives became the key project drivers to be translated and reflected in the built form.
Located on the first floor, the studio is welcoming and flexible, supporting the collocation of multidisciplinary project teams, allowing a collaborative approach to each project, interconnecting our architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and heritage teams. Open and transparent, all areas of the space are connected with support spaces such as meeting rooms, library and bespoke niches for ad-hoc meetings or individual work. Visual connections across the spaces and to the neighbouring streets are celebrated. The break/lunch area, while visually linked is physically independent from the studio and provides a destination for staff to step away from their workspace and connect with each other, visitors and the surroundings.

Externally, the shell is a complex, distinctive and robust combination of concrete and exposed steelwork, in contrast to the more refined materiality and warmth of the interior spaces. However, there is a design ideology that ties together the outside and the inside; this speaks of authenticity and the design confidence Swanbury Penglase has built over the past thirty years. The thoughtful detailing throughout creates a timeless design aesthetic and enables the interior and the exterior to express a common character.

Our new studio confidently and proudly celebrates our values, but most importantly, is a true reflection of the people who work here.

In 2015 Swanbury Penglase was engaged to prepare a Facilities Plan/Design Brief for AISSA (Association of Independent Schools of South Australia), to clearly define their future accommodation requirements. AISSA was, at the time located within three separate office buildings in Unley and Malvern and a significant aspect of their business – the provision of professional development seminars for their members, was not served well by this arrangement.

In 2016 and 2017 we undertook feasibility assessments of two separate potential premises and in 2017 AISSA agreed to relocate to a tenancy space on Greenhill Road. We were commissioned to realise the interior fitout of their new offices in addition to miscellaneous works to the building’s undercroft car park including the provision of under-floor insulative cladding to the concrete soffit.

Working closely with AISSA representatives we developed a very efficient working environment with a focus on both individual offices as well as large multi-purpose seminar rooms.

Two such rooms are flanked by a multi-purpose breakout space to cater for visitors to the building before and after conferences and a new open-plan communal kitchen/work café facilitates staff engagement and interaction.

The fitout was delivered in a highly collaborative and structured manner by specialist fitout contractors SHAPE and thanks to a detailed set of documents, a cost-effective approach to selections and a ‘best for project’ approach, the project was finished on time and under budget.

AISSA is delighted in their new work environment; it is a light, airy and socially engaging workspace and a team that was previously located in a disparate manner across different buildings has been brought together to share their experience, knowledge and social engagement in a central location on the city fringe.

With a working relationship spanning over twenty five years, Fresenius Kidney Care and Swanbury Penglase have designed and delivered in excess of thirty dialysis clinics throughout Australasia.

The clinics provide a high level of clinical care whilst recognising that patients spend a substantial amount of time at the clinic on a regular basis; on average 3-4 hours a day three times a week. The design of the clinic environment therefore plays a significant role in their overall quality of life.

Typical aspects of the patient centred-design approach includes the use of soft welcoming colours, diffuse lighting, the maximisation of external views, the provision of audio-visual entertainment and internet connection are vital considerations in the final presentation of the clinics.

The clinics are highly serviced with high quality reverse osmosis water loops, body protected electrical services, patient monitoring software and nurse call systems. Mechanical services are specifically designed to provide a draught free environment and careful control as patients are temperature sensitive, particularly to the cold.

Maintenance of a sterile environment is also essential and the detailing of fixtures and fittings, wall and floor junctions and finishes selections have been developed to be both robust and be easy to clean and maintain.

Some examples of completed dialysis clinics nationally include:

• Mater Hospital, Sydney, 20 Stations
• NorthWest Hospital, Sydney, 16 Stations
• Auckland, New Zealand, 10 Stations
• Spearwood Clinic, Perth, 24 Stations
• Alice Springs, 18 Stations
• Katherine, NT, 20 Stations
• Varsity Lakes Clinic, 16 Stations
• Brighton, SA, 30 Stations
• Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, 16 Stations
• Brookwater, QLD, 8 Stations
• Sunshine, VIC, 16 Stations
• Forrest Hill, VIC, 16 Stations
• John James Hospital, Canberra, 16 Stations
• St George Hospital Satellite Clinic, NSW 23 Stations
• Clinic at Cannington, WA, 28 Stations
• Clinic at Midland, WA, 32 Stations
• Clinic at Stirling, WA, 32 Stations

Our brief was to create light filled, transparent series of spaces that supported collaboration between staff and students and embodied the transitional journey students take in middle years.

Our design commenced by relocating the library to a central location to create a space that would become the new Middle School. T his new location capturing the expansive views to the playing fields bordered by Ferguson Park.

Circulation through the space was angled to direct outlook and carve out areas for informal and accidental interaction. Working with remaining fixed elements such as columns, the design team cultivated ‘structures’ to ground and define areas, providing choice to students for different setting configurations and sizes. Intended to be playful elements, their form mimics playground structures to be moved around as well as occupied.

This approach continued externally with a new structure extending over a two-storey retaining wall that physically connects the middle school to the playing fields. The deck includes seating elements that address both the middle school and playing fields.

A significant skylight provides abundant natural daylight into the heart of the space. This is supported by artificial lighting, providing flexibility throughout the day and night. Spaces are agile and can be joined allowing class areas to become gathering space for larger groups.

Close attention has been given to the acoustics with absorptive surfaces included in the construction of the circulation spaces. This means even at peak capacity, noise levels are managed and remain comfortable.

Close collaboration with both staff and the students, has resulted in a design that embodies and reflects the St Peter’s Girls’ community. Finishes and detailing are simple but sophisticated. The Middle School includes a colour scheme that slowly evolves as students move through the spaces, reflecting their growing maturity and the transitional journey that occurs.

Our design commenced by relocating the Library to a central location for years 7 to 12, putting it between what would become the new Middle School and the Senior School. This location captured the expansive views to Ferguson Park bordering one side of the college, a unique aspect and until now, mostly under-utilised. The natural bush setting provided the inspiration for the Library fitout finishes,

Close collaboration between architect, engineer and contractor was essential to deliver the design and retain integrity of the simple concrete structure. This aspect was most evident in the balcony designed to project from the library into Ferguson Park, the challenge being that no structure could be taken to ground due to the lower levels protruding. The result effectively hangs upside down from the concrete frame, with some eight tonnes of steel craned up three storeys and assembled onsite.

Internally, the space was stripped back to the structure with the intent to provide a new internal skin that would reveal the full volume of the space including the raking roof space. Enclosed project spaces were located at either side and were connected to adjoining class areas. Central is the library circulation functions and staff spaces which allows views to all areas.

The collection is divided into 3 sections, Fiction, Senior Fiction and Non-Fiction and spreads out to create spaces within the books. Different types of seating allows students to choose between quiet and introspective spaces through to more open and collaborative areas. The library also includes two areas for classes, however, all furniture, including the collection, is mobile and it is anticipated that elements will move regularly.

In terms of finishes, the library reflects the small piece of Australian bush that faces it. Natural timber veneers are complemented with eucalyptus greens and greys creating a warm, inviting, calming atmosphere. A place of retreat from the challenges faced by today’s learners in this increasingly complex and unnatural world.

Swanbury Penglase worked with Renewal SA and Sage Automation to develop a new head office and adjacent manufacturing space under the Main Assembly Building (MAB) roof at Tonsley.

SAGE Automation is a leading South Australian manufacturing business specialising in high end automation and engineering switching and signage systems. They had outgrown their previous space at Melrose Park which had seen the business split across six separate tenancies that had been acquired as the business grew.

The decision to relocate to a purpose-built central facility was a significant milestone for SAGE, allowing them to bring all of their teams back together in the one space, under the one roof. It was significant too for Renewal SA as it filled a comparatively large part of the MAB internal space, enclosing a significant portion of the western side of the MAB and providing further momentum to the redevelopment.

The project consists of a 1330m2 open plan office building floating below the existing MAB structure and a 2175m2 manufacturing space which utilises and integrates with the existing MAB structure to provide an open and light filled space suitable for high end manufacturing of complex automation and control gear.

The project includes base building works and an integrated open plan fitout for 100 staff, most of whom are engineers. While Tonsley has a range of excellent food outlets available, the brief included the provision of a large staff break out space, another first, to provide informal space for staff to gather.

The project development stage saw close collaboration between all parties to ensure the high design standards for Tonsley were delivered, both externally and in the fitout.

In addition to the Sage facility, a separate tenancy space of 165m2 was created and fitted out with an integrated tenancy for Co-HAB, another tenant which Swanbury Penglase had previously worked with in the Main Administration Building at Tonsley.

Swanbury Penglase was engaged to further develop a previous Architect’s concept plan for the expansion of Beerenberg’s entire Operation Facility. The iconic South Australian food condiment brand required a design solution that factored in future expansion stages along with the overall aim of consolidating all its business operations within the one manageable area.  The development involved an extensive cut and fill exercise of rural land at the rear of Beerenberg’s existing food processing facility to make way for a new state of the art warehouse distribution area, food processing facility and office administration space.

Occupying the rear of this picturesque Adelaide Hills site, the facility comprises approximately 2,060sqm of warehouse distribution, 2390sqm of processing area and 825sqm of offices administration spaces.

The substantial size of the development combined with its high profile location required a creative approach to the external facade. Colour inspiration was drawn from the Adelaide Hills setting and the work of Hans Heysen, with colours selected from an abstract digitised image of one of his works. The result is a combination of thirty colours applied in a shifting palette that changes, depending on where the building is viewed.

Internally, administration has been located to take advantage of the iconic and picturesque setting, with the open office spaces and boardroom looking across the original farm resulting in a stunning outlook from the boardroom and one that encapsulates the Beerenberg brand.

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.

Previously operating on North Terrace close to the City East Campus, this project was an opportunity for the CELUSA teaching facility to move to purpose built accommodation at the City West Campus, occupying an entire floor on Level 3 of the Catherine Helen Spence Building.

CELUSA specialises in providing high-quality Academic English language preparation programs for international undergraduate and postgraduate students. The CELUSA program is for students looking to develop their skills to meet the English language admission requirements necessary for academic study at the University of South Australia, the South Australian Institute of Business and Technology (SAIBT) and the Le Cordon Bleu Academy of Hospitality.

The fitout entry is predominantly green, with an illuminated ‘tunnel like’ spine, forming the main corridor, highlighting to students where to go; in essence drawing them to the walk up kiosks, a priority for the reception interface by providing a self-service experience.

The brief was to provide as many tutorial spaces as possible as well as a small area dedicated to staff accommodation. A sense of theatre is achieved by illuminating the skirtings to one side and by continuing the green theme with angled carpet panels and corresponding angled green paint strips to the walls to assist with wayfinding the entry points to each tutorial room.

Located on North Terrace ‘Old Parliament House’ is one of the most significant historic buildings in South Australia. For a number of years it had been unused and its condition was deteriorating with the passage of time.

A project was initiated to carry out essential conservation works and make the accommodation provided within the building accessible to and usable by the adjacent Parliament House to address identified shortage of meeting rooms and offices.

As a result of this project much of the original building fabric has been conserved and returned to pristine condition and where necessary new contemporary elements have been inserted to facilitate accessibility to and connectivity between the multiple levels within Old Parliament House and to Parliament House itself.

A new ‘entry’ from North Terrace has been created providing a second major entry point to the Parliament House complex which is compliant with disability access codes, provides convenient access for members and parliamentary staff and is a gateway for visiting school groups.

The refurbished building incorporates a high level of both electronic security and acoustic privacy to meeting rooms and offices.

The building works included replacement of all services incorporated within the existing building fabric in a manner which did not impact on the original heritage fabric and brought the spaces up to date in terms of communications and recording technology.

The redevelopment includes a landscaped courtyard space retaining the existing century old palms and in turn provides an outdoor gathering space for parliamentary functions.

For over 150 years the management of postal services in South Australia has been centred around the General Post Office. How times have changed, and Adelaide’s GPO, in common with most of the GPO’s around Australia now serves another purpose.

Australia Post recently relocated to a purpose built fitout on Level 2 & 3 of Tower 8 (aiming for a 5 Greenstar and 4.5 NABERS rating). The fitout maintains a nationwide commitment to open plan with minimal offices. Workstations are pushed to the north and south facades, locating staff adjacent light and views and allowing maximum penetration of natural light. Meeting spaces, quiet rooms and utility areas are located centrally, divided in three sections to service each side of the floor, the central core housing a training facility and large singular break area.

Front of house meeting and reception is also located on Level 3. AV is integrated throughout the facility to provide network connectivity appropriate for a national corporation.

The overall feel is warm, open, flexible and efficient, contemporary without being trendy. We can’t say if Post will be in this location for the next 150 years but hope this fitout sees them prepared for the future.