TAFE IATC Kingswood | Modern Training Facility Design

Direct Client TAFE NSW
Builder ADCO
Architect Gray Puksand
Sectors
- Education
Services
- Civil
- Structural
- Sustainability
Value $80M
Year 2024
Location Kingswood, NSW

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TAFE IATC Building Kingswood Structural Engineering

TAFE's Institute of Applied Technology is an award-winning, future-focused learning environment designed to equip the next generation of construction professionals with real-world skills.

Partnership

The three-storey building features double and triple-height workshops, seminar rooms, engagement spaces, a gantry crane, working-at-heights platforms, and an outdoor sand pit for civil training.

From concept design through to completion, Northrop worked closely with TAFE NSW, Gray Puksand, ADCO Constructions, and the broader consultant team to deliver a facility that not only meets the functional needs of modern vocational education but also sets a new benchmark for sustainability and design excellence in the education sector.

TAFE IATC specialised learning environments Engineering

Project

The facility had to accommodate high load demands, tall open volumes and diverse learning environments while maintaining cost efficiency and sustainable performance. Achieving the architectural intent, a floating roof over open teaching zones, required careful coordination between steel and concrete systems.

Sustainability was embedded throughout the project’s lifecycle. The IATC is one of the first TAFE NSW projects to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Design & As Built certification from the Green Building Council of Australia. This rating reflects the project’s commitment to environmental performance, incorporating features such as natural ventilation, on-site power generation, and greywater reuse systems. These initiatives reduce the building’s environmental footprint while also lowering operational costs and enhancing occupant wellbeing.

A central atrium provides a light-filled gathering and breakout space, enhancing connectivity and collaboration across the facility. One of the most striking architectural features is the expansive steel-framed roof, which appears to float above the building. This roof shelters a covered perimeter walkway and spans a 24-metre clear-span outdoor workshop that houses a fully operational gantry crane—an essential component for heavy lifting and construction training. Our engineers developed efficient connection details to simplify erection and reduce steel tonnage.

Civil designs optimised site grading and integrated stormwater management with landscaped learning zones.

TAFE IATC Kingswood Stairwell Learning Space

Impact

The IATC Kingswood sets a new benchmark for vocational training environments, combining technical capability with architectural quality. Northrop’s design provides long-term flexibility for TAFE NSW, ensuring spaces can evolve alongside industry needs.

Through early collaboration and practical design, the facility now stands as a showcase of modern vocational education: robust, efficient and future-focused.

TAFE IATC Kingswood Night Shot Structure

Awards

Master Builders Association NSW, Excellence in Construction - Winner, Tertiary Buildings $10–$70M 2024
Green Building Council of Australia - 5 Star Green Star rating