PRESS RELEASE: 25/10/2012

Boilerhouse Restaurant Awarded Nationally and Internationally

The Boilerhouse Restaurant, on the UWS Parramatta Campus, has just won the ACUMA 2012 Award for the Best Refurbished Facility. It also won the Master Builders Association Award for Best Adaptive Re-Use of a Historic Building (under $5m). The Boilerhouse precinct was also shortlisted in the World Architecture Awards in the New and Old category.

The visual impact and ambience of The Boilerhouse design, coupled with its effectiveness, in terms of functionality as a restaurant, has made it an obvious winner in so many competitions.

The Boilerhouse is a finely crafted sandstock brick building, dating back to 1894, which provided heating to the psychiatric hospital formerly located on the site. Sadly it fell into disrepair following an explosion. It has been recently restored and sympathetically renovated.

Alex Kibble, Managing Director at Tanner Kibble Denton Architects said; “The transformation of the UWS Boiler House is an exciting combination of new and old...the kitchen is housed in an extension that links the existing boiler hall to a new open air pavilion. The pavilion echoes the form and nature of the Boiler House, yet is detailed in a contemporary nature. The Parramatta campus of University of Western Sydney is a significant and historic place. The project introduced a new physical presence: it is not historicist nor is it overtly contemporary; yet it makes a new statement of university life.”

The revitalised building maintains the character of yester-year, with exposed brickwork and restored artefacts. Historical features such as remnants of the old boilers and pipe work have been restored and fashioned into artworks by Philip Spark. The interior has a chic industrial edge and the decor, focusing on reds and black, is consistent with a contemporary feel.

Upon presentation of the ACUMA Award to uwsconnect, the President of ACUMA, Brad Hannagan said: “Students and staff at UWS have clearly benefited from the rebirth of a significant structure on the historic site, which now also provides elegant, yet affordable gourmet dining”.