The Forum Health and Wellness Centre
Location
Honeysuckle, Newcastle NSW
Located between Workshop Place and Harbour Square at Harbourside, in Honeysuckle, Newcastle, this is adaptive re-use project for the new Forum Health and Wellness Centre owned by University of Newcastle Sport is within the heritage listed Civic Railway Workshops Block A (the former Permanent Way Store or Perway Building).
The underlying principles of the health and wellness centre were to maintain important aspects of the existing building, mainly the sense of scale and size of the internal volume along with an interpretation of the building’s previous use. The concept of ‘a building within a building’ was adopted maintaining a strong axis through the building and retaining existing openings and part of a former platform enabling a clear interpretation of previous use.
The concept was to keep new internal structures independent of the existing fabric allowing the new development to maintain a ‘minimum and reversible impact’ on the significant fabric of the building. New building work was detailed in a contemporary manner which while substantial, touches the building lightly.
Externally the context is a combination of heritage railway and contemporary buildings within the
The project included full documentation of the existing building and coordination and integration of services for an operational gym, childcare facility, amenities, while meeting access requirements. Adaptive reuse of heritage listed Civic Railway Workshops building for the new Forum Health and Wellness. The concept of ‘a building within a building’ was adopted maintaining a strong axis through the building and retaining existing openings and part of a former platform enabling a clear interpretation of previous use. The concept was to keep new internal structures independent of the existing fabric allowing the new development to maintain a minimum and reversible impact on the significant fabric of the building.
New building work was detailed in a contemporary manner which while substantial, touches the building lightly. The design and execution of the facility required the co-operation of State Heritage, Newcastle City Council and the Honeysuckle Creek Authority within a tight timeframe and budget. The fit-out was to provide sports facilities, including fitness class spaces, spin classes, weights rooms, creche and amenities.
