Australian Catholic University (ACU), together with Blacktown Regional Council, has delivered a new campus in the heart of Greater Western Sydney. The 6,000sqm Blacktown campus occupies four floors of a five-storey existing building, and is within walking distance to Blacktown train and bus stations.

Working to an ambitious timeline, the design and construction programme was staged so that all on-site work was completed in a live teaching environment. Further challenges came from the task of re-purposing the entire existing commercial office into learning and teaching spaces. The existing building, for example, required an ungraded cooling plant, additional ventilation and vertical transportation refurbishment.

The new campus features purpose-built teaching and learning facilities including nursing labs, bed simulation wards, a moot court and science lab. Inclusive student spaces include breakout and study areas, collaboration spaces, a library, chapel, lounge area and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culturally safe space.