The University of Waikato’s brand-new landmark building The Pā, has been shortlisted in the 2024 World Architecture Festival awards.
Entrance to the new University wharenui, Ko Te Tangata, centered in the heart of The Pā, giving shape and form to the complex. Photo credit: Simon Devitt.
Set to be judged live by an international panel at Singapore’s Marine Bay Sands in November, The Pā is the only building from New Zealand to be named in the Completed Buildings – Higher Education and Research category.
Other buildings in the category include Josai University in Japan, Texoversum in Germany and UCL East, Marshgate in London. The shortlist was selected from 800 entries submitted by over 350 architectural practices.
The Pā, which opened in July last year and was designed by Architectus, Jasmax and DesignTribe, is the largest capital project in the University’s 60-year history. ‘The Pā’ is a reference to the integrated and connected facilities within the complex that are designed to provide a focal point for the University community.
Ko Te Tangata. Photo credit – Simon Devitt.
Described by the World Architecture Festival as “the first mainstream university in the world to redefine the university as a place of bicultural welcome, education and connection,” The Pā serves as and symbolizes the beating heart of the campus.
“The Pā exemplifies our commitment to creating an inclusive, innovative space that reflects our unique cultural heritage and supports our diverse student body,” says University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley.
There is nothing else like it nationally or internationally. Every aspect of The Pā is bespoke and there is a rich cultural narrative that links the complex to the history and heritage of the site as well as to the different communities that use it today. Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award is a testament to the hard work and vision of everyone involved in the project.
The shortlisted projects will be presented at the festival in November, and the category winners will then re-present to a ‘super-jury’ which will decide the two projects that will be named World Building or Future Project of the Year.
The outstanding work by Architectus, alongside Jasmax and DesignTribe, has been instrumental in realising the vision of The Pā, transforming the on-campus experience for the University and its community.
Designed as a central meeting space Te Āhurutanga honours the history of the site as a student safe-haven, cultural centre and gathering site for the University community. Photo credit: Simon Devitt
The building incorporates a new University wharenui and marae, student hub and home for the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
The $85m project started in 2019, but was preceded by a master planning exercise for the campus as a whole, and a vision to reshape the site introduced by Professor Quigley following his arrival at the University in 2015. The University brought forward the vision for a facility that would be both symbolic and practical, and consulted with King Tūheitia to ensure that it would give full expression to the mana of the University and its place in Waikato.
The University acknowledges its partners in this project:
Cultural Artworks: Commissioned by Waikato Tainui and the Office of the Kīngitanga
Construction: Hawkins
Design: Architectus, Jasmax, designTRIBE with Wraight + Associates
Project management: Colliers Project Leaders Greenstone Group
Structures and building services: Beca
Facade engineering: Mott MacDonald
Planning: Boffa Miskell
Acoustic engineering: Marshall Day
Vertical transportation: Stephenson and Turner
Commissioning engineers: Pacific commissioning
Traffic design: CKL
