Leading architects, fjcstudio have been appointed as principal design consultant for the $84.6m expansion of Campbelltown Arts Centre, marking a key milestone in the delivery of this major development and investment in cultural infrastructure in Campbelltown.
fjcstudio is an Australian design practice renowned for their innovative and sustainable architecture and has delivered, award-winning major projects around the world.
They are the only practice globally to have received the prestigious World Building of the Year award twice, most recently for Darlington Public School and previously for Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in New Zealand.
fjcstudio brings a strong focus on placemaking and cultural connection with decades of experience shaping significant public and civic spaces across Australia, including cultural facilities.
fjcstudio's vision for Campbelltown Arts Centre Expansion will draw inspiration from the Dharawal landscape and culture, with a design that will seek to deepen connection to Country through spaces that foster cultural exchange, storytelling, and shared understanding.
The project team will be undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement to inform the concept designs, which will be available later this year.
The concept will take inspiration from the local landscape, strengthening the site's relationship with the broader precinct, and enhancing its visual and physical interaction with the surrounding environment. This approach aims to enrich the visitor journey, shaping how people move through and experience the space.
This major redevelopment reflects the goals of the Creative Campbelltown Cultural Strategy 2024-2030, and supports Council's vision to build on Campbelltown Arts Centre's position as a strong leader in the Western Sydney arts ecology.
"This project is a major investment in the future of arts and culture in Campbelltown, expanding our ability to bring high-quality programming to our city and the region, and ensuring our community have access to arts and culture close to home." Mayor of Campbelltown, Darcy Lound said.
"The expansion of Campbelltown Arts Centre will bring a modernised facility that provides more spaces to meet our city's growing needs, including more space for workshops, exhibitions, performances, and events," Cr Lound said.
"Campbelltown Arts Centre is a landmark facility in our region that our community is incredibly proud of. Having a design so thoughtfully inspired by local culture will only strengthen its role as a cherished place for the local community and a destination to attract new visitors to our city," he said.
"Appointing fjcstudio as the lead architect is an exciting milestone for this project and I'm incredibility excited to witness an investment of this magnitude in our city progress, which will solidify Campbelltown's position and achieve lasting impact in the arts and cultural space."
"This project is a significant investment in the arts in the Campbelltown region and will provide our community with the opportunity to access high quality facilities and programming close to home," said Mr. Greg Warren, Member for Campbelltown, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Early Learning, and Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney
"Campbelltown Arts Centre is an iconic facility that is much loved in our community. The connection to our local landscape and culture will continue to further elevate the standing of this facility in the Campbelltown and broader Western Sydney region," Mr Warren said.
"We are so delighted to have been selected to deliver the revitalisation of Campbelltown Arts Centre. Cultural and community buildings are the core of our practice, and we are dedicated to excellence in the design of these buildings because of their community reach and great public benefit," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudios.
"This project will be more than a sum of its parts - gallery, theatre, conference and workshops. It will be the Campbelltown community's cultural place, open to everyone to spend time, create and connect. We feel privileged to be appointed as architects for this project, knowing that it has been a place that many people have held dear for decades. We will be working with the Council and the Community to develop a place that instils pride and a true sense of belonging. It will be a place that directly reflects what is unique about Dharawal Country and the Campbelltown region - a revitalised heart for Campbelltown's vibrant culture," Mr Francis-Jones said.
The project will deliver a new theatre space, additional workshop spaces, dedicated storage for artwork, new and enhanced gallery spaces, artist studios, expansion of the café, hireable function and conference spaces, and improvements to accessibility and the building's connection to the City Centre.
The design approach will consider adaptive reuses of the existing floorplan and incorporate and repurpose existing infrastructure to maximise sustainability.
The project's estimated completion date is 2029.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program ($79m), with additional funding provided through the Campbelltown Local Infrastructure Plan ($5.6m).
