The Helidon's Golden Hall

Hi, I’m Lorane, and I’m excited to share my graduating design project, showcasing my journey and passion for architecture and design.

The graduating assignment involves designing a new Great Hall for the University of Queensland to host graduation ceremonies. The capstone focuses on exploring how materiality can be used to integrate the building harmoniously within its site and context while reflecting its historical, cultural, and identity values.

Many surrounding buildings reference the Forgan Smith Building through materiality, making it a key influence. The UQ Art Museum serves as a significant precedent, employing a glass façade that mirrors the sandstone of Forgan Smith to create the illusion of a sandstone structure. The site itself holds deep historical importance for both the University of Queensland and Brisbane’s development. Sandstone, originally quarried from Helidon, was used in many of Brisbane’s heritage buildings, including St Stephen’s Cathedral, Old Government House, and Parliament House.

As the first building constructed at UQ’s St Lucia campus, Forgan Smith, designed by Hennessy, Hennessy & Co., embodies 1930s Art Deco influences combined with monumental architectural forms and remains a symbol of the university’s identity. Collectively, these precedents highlight how sandstone serves as a material expression of UQ’s and Brisbane’s architectural heritage and cultural values.