Yunggorendi Cultural Gathering Space
After 30 years of planning by Flinders University, we were selected to design and deliver a new cultural gathering space for Yunggorendi Mande.
Using an extensive engagement process with teaching staff, Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis O’Brien and university students, we prepared a design that allowed access paths, decks and other facilities to touch the ground lightly, reinforcing the idea of healing Country.
While conceptually simple, we are constructing the project on the steep slopes of the university campus, which has required innovative and collaborative thinking from the whole project team to create a gathering space within a native landscape setting.
Meinhardt, the project engineers, have provided structural solutions for suspended decking and board piers that enable the landscape to flow beneath. Sarah Construction’s skills in project management and collaborative approach has meant that site issues have been resolved without impacting the delivery of the project.
Ongoing collaboration with Sarah and Bargain Steel Centre meant that opportunities to pre-fabricate the deck were embedded into the delivery of the project. This has enabled the programme to be accelerated as well as reducing construction impacts on site. At the same time, Adelaide Innovative Landscapes and All Access Civil have used specialised machinery and construction techniques to deal with the challenging site conditions.
As part of the project, WAX and Sarah are donating over 200 bush food plants to support the cultural significance of the project. This donation builds on Sarah’s existing community payback programme, which acknowledges the company’s impacts on clients and communities during the construction period.
For more information, please visit our project page Yunggorendi Cultural Gathering Space