A Great New Hall for UQ

The proposal for the University of Queensland’s new great hall focuses on creating structured and layered landscape to be experienced as part of the graduation procession and everyday student life. The landscape becomes the framework that enhances the current site conditions and maintains the integrity of the existing terrain. Greenery and vegetation not only has positive impacts on mental wellbeing, but also create calm, shaded, and grounding moments that are essential for both daily student life and milestone occasions like graduation. The building sits amongst the vegetation and blends into the landscape like an object to be explored. The design positions landscape as an interstitial buffer between built forms, ensuring that students remain visually and physically connected to nature throughout their journey. The building’s circular form reinforces a natural hierarchy, where the central stage becomes the focus and symbolic heart of the graduation experience - anchored by symmetry that references the anticipation, guiding students through a sequence of spatial reveals. As the hall’s elevation remains hidden until approached, the procession becomes a journey of discovery—culminating in a destination that represents both completion and transition into the next chapter beyond university.