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Lasers to annhiliate Adelaide University icon.
There’s an old saying beloved of mechanics, procrastinators and home handypersons everywhere: ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
But administrators at Adelaide University apparently have their own new motto: ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’
News has recently aired that a classic Modernist building in the grounds of Adelaide University is threatened with destruction – not by termites, wood rot or salt damp, but laser research
The Adelaide University wants to pulverise its ageing 500 seat Union Hall theatre – host to many shows, parades and graduation ceremonies – in favour of a new Physics building designed for laser research facilities.
Adelaide heritage advocates are suitably aggrieved, and the South Australian Heritage Council has given the threatened building three month’s temporary heritage status to allow ‘consultation’.
University of Adelaide vice chancellor, James McWha, said the delay could ‘endanger the future project’.
‘This decision jeopardises an exciting new development for this state, a world-leading research facility that will allow our researchers to produce great benefits in health, the environment, food and wine production and defence,’ he claimed.
Adelaide’s architectural devotees can be re-assured then, that it’s obviously not about the money.
But Professor McWha says hard times require hard decisions.
‘We need to make tough choices to best use our limited space and the funding we get,’ he says.
‘We are funded for research and teaching and that's where we must place our priorities.’
The University claims that the Union Hall has not been used by the Adelaide Festival since 2000, has had limited use in the last decade by the Adelaide Fringe, and that the University's Theatre Guild stopped regular use of the Hall fifteen years ago.
‘Do we want to keep an ageing facility that is not being used any more as a full theatre; that makes a poor lecture theatre; and that would require a substantial investment to refurbish and meet occupational health and safety requirements?’ asks Professor McWha.
Apparently not.
Pity that one of the few remaining examples of Modernism in Adelaide isn’t modern enough.
(Image courtesy of www.architectureanddesign.com.au )
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But administrators at Adelaide University apparently have their own new motto: ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’
News has recently aired that a classic Modernist building in the grounds of Adelaide University is threatened with destruction – not by termites, wood rot or salt damp, but laser research
The Adelaide University wants to pulverise its ageing 500 seat Union Hall theatre – host to many shows, parades and graduation ceremonies – in favour of a new Physics building designed for laser research facilities.
Adelaide heritage advocates are suitably aggrieved, and the South Australian Heritage Council has given the threatened building three month’s temporary heritage status to allow ‘consultation’.
University of Adelaide vice chancellor, James McWha, said the delay could ‘endanger the future project’.
‘This decision jeopardises an exciting new development for this state, a world-leading research facility that will allow our researchers to produce great benefits in health, the environment, food and wine production and defence,’ he claimed.
Adelaide’s architectural devotees can be re-assured then, that it’s obviously not about the money.
But Professor McWha says hard times require hard decisions.
‘We need to make tough choices to best use our limited space and the funding we get,’ he says.
‘We are funded for research and teaching and that's where we must place our priorities.’
The University claims that the Union Hall has not been used by the Adelaide Festival since 2000, has had limited use in the last decade by the Adelaide Fringe, and that the University's Theatre Guild stopped regular use of the Hall fifteen years ago.
‘Do we want to keep an ageing facility that is not being used any more as a full theatre; that makes a poor lecture theatre; and that would require a substantial investment to refurbish and meet occupational health and safety requirements?’ asks Professor McWha.
Apparently not.
Pity that one of the few remaining examples of Modernism in Adelaide isn’t modern enough.
(Image courtesy of www.architectureanddesign.com.au )
Return to the news list
