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When the Red Cross Blood Service commissioned Swanbury Penglase to design a new donor centre, it was in the context of a drive to attract new donors and make the process of donating blood convenient and as much as possible a pleasurable experience.

The new centre was to be the biggest in Australia and located in the heart of the CBD accessed from the busy Regent Arcade running between Rundle Mall and Grenfell Street.

Blood Donor Centres are required to be licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration who have established a range of strict compliance requirements related particularly to atmospheric temperature and infection control. The centres are subject to stringent audits and commissioning processes which occur over a period of up to 3 months before donors can use the centre.

A range of stakeholders within the Australian Red Cross Blood Services were engaged to provide detailed input to and audit of the concept design and detailed documentation before work on site commenced.
An abstract representation of blood circulation provided the basis for planning and conceptual design ideas while a recurring theme of positive and negative components, influenced by positive and negative blood types, is evident throughout the fitout.

Colour and finishes were selected to create a warm and inviting environment and challenge aesthetic expectations for clinical environments.

As part of the refurbishment and upgrade of the entire facility, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre (AEC) embarked on a total overhaul of their existing food and beverage delivery systems to the main entertainment space, the Arena.

Swanbury Penglase was engaged along with a specialist food & beverage service delivery consultant to upgrade and redesign all the bar, food and drink outlets adjacent the Arena, to improve the speed at which patrons can be served and increase the variety of food and beverages available.

The result sees bars that incorporate the latest technology in multiple beverage delivery, self-service food outlets where users can walk in and make selections from both hot and cold options and the separation of the payment function from the service function, with cashiers now located to encourage people to move through the outlets quickly.

The functional redesign is complimented by the dynamic and bold new appearance of the outlets that feature the AEC red alongside rich greys, glossy metals and glass and coloured feature lighting. New outlets utilize electronic signage that enables the AEC to tailor the menu options to suit the event and more effectively communicate the options to patrons resulting in increased sales and positive feedback from users.

Enhancing SA’s initiative to attract world leading international universities, University College London (UCL) has arrived in Adelaide.  UCL is currently ranked fourth in the world and its School of Energy and Resources has been established in the State Heritage Torrens Building, Victoria Square.  The design team embraced the opportunity to create a refreshing and bold statement challenging UCL’s previous interior design ideals to create their first international campus with a presence of its own in South Australia.

Working within the constraints of the heritage fabric, the concept explores the notion of ‘the old’ (the Torrens Building itself) and ‘the new’ (UCL’s first International Campus). New walls and joinery are detailed to be independent and easily removed and are designed to appear more as art installations within the spaces.

The fitout is unexpected, bold and sophisticated consisting of seminar and teaching rooms, student study and recreational areas, executive and administrative suites, intermingled with facilities for visiting staff and researchers. The alliance between UCL and Adelaide is visually celebrated throughout the spaces, expressed within graphics and art installations.

This quality project was delivered on time and under budget resulting in a rewarding and successful outcome for both the design team and the client.

The design of the building emerged from the synthesis of several key concerns, all of which were subservient to ESD considerations. The striking features of the building are its simple skillion roof form and large areas of glazing. These features respond to the client’s wish for a light, airy and open office space while creating a contemporary design statement.

Passive ESD systems employed include double glazed windows using high efficiency glass, ventilated double skin roof, large roof overhangs, reverse veneer construction and fully insulated construction throughout. Passive active systems were also installed allowing a high degree of user adjustment and include retractable louvres, blind systems and openable windows throughout.