Faculty of Law, University of NSW
Education
Adrian Stanic
Corbett Lyon
University of New South Wales - Kensington Campus
Anzac Parade, Kingsford NSW 2032
Located on the traditional lands of the Dharug, Eora and Tharawal people
8,500m²
Completed, 2006
The design for the Faculty of Law Building at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) Kensington Campus finds equilibrium between function and symbolism. It extends beyond utility to create an identity steeped in morals, history and progressive modern design. The plan strengthens campus connections, aligning with campus master planning and supporting a rich learning environment. Functionally, The Faculty of Law is a four-level building featuring a light-filled atrium space, open staircases, a landscaped courtyard and an agora void connecting the floors. Symbolically, the design represents UNSW’s commitment to its progressive and liberal values: commitment to social justice; compassion; progress; accessibility; social equity; commitment to excellence; not authoritarian; enquiry and questioning and research. Completed in 2006, the design nods to the established traditional institution of law schools, while not being bound by them. The architecture translates this teaching ethos into an open, student-centred environment that supports collaborative learning. The result is an interconnected building that fosters diverse relationships and teaching methods for students, staff and the broader community. Flexible learning spaces and student engagement hubs are woven into circulation, creating everyday opportunities for study, discussion and informal mentoring.
“We developed a design that is highly responsive to the particular campus precinct and were able to make significant connections that shape the Kensington Campus. The ground floor connects University Road to Union Road and Road House and contributes to the urban definition of the landscaped Mall space.”
Adrian Stanic, Director of Lyons
The Faculty of Law is designed as a low-rise structure to promote maximum interactivity between staff, students and visitors. The Law Library, located over two levels, is the symbolic and functional heart of the building. This daylit space allows students and academic staff to study and undertake research in a purpose designed setting overlooking the treed environment of University Mall. Together these elements create a cohesive academic facility that privileges quiet study and collaboration within a learning-focused architecture. Light-filled atria spaces, open staircases and landscaped courtyard spaces enhance this visual interconnectivity, providing a high amenity work and study environment for Law and University users. The ground floor includes a 350-seat auditorium and two Harvard-style, horseshoe-shaped learning spaces for formal and discursive learning. Student spaces are designed based on the Socratic method of discourse, a student-centred approach that encourages critical thinking and shared dialogue between students and staff. These settings form collaborative learning environments that can be reconfigured easily, supporting learning space optimisation across the timetable. To achieve this, teaching spaces are flexible, flat-floor spaces with movable desking and seating to encourage open exchange of ideas. Flat-floor planning and movable furniture enable rapid shifts between lectures, seminars and workshops, maintaining learning space flexibility without complex resets.
“After being shortlisted from a panel of established and successful architects, the firm were the winner in an invited competitive architectural selection process…. The entire experience was one of collaboration and effective teamwork, firstly with the Faculty of Law client team and later with the construction management team.”
Graham Parry, Deputy Director, Property Strategy Projects, UNSW
Corbett Lyon, Directors, Co-Founders, Practice Executive
View Corbett's ProfileAdrian Stanic, Directors, Practice Executive
View Adrian's Profile
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