UTAS University College
The UTAS University College design is centred around openness, approachability and natural tones. Situated within the student accommodation offering designed by nettletontribe, the University College will provide a range of shorter flexible courses for students looking for a job focused qualification or pathway into a bachelor program.
For students the College may be their first experience of a university environment, as such, it was important that the interiors were an approachable and warm welcome. Natural tones and textures were used throughout the spaces, in contrast to the backdrop of an exposed and honest built form.
Based on the style of communal cafés, the lower ground follows an open plan design, shared kitchenette and high/low seating options. At its heart, the space uses a large ‘kitchen dining table’ to encourage casual interactions between students and staff. Transparent joinery surrounds staff workstations, designed to gently separate zones whilst maintaining visual and verbal communication between staff and students.
Due to the range of teaching styles adopted by the college, learning spaces were designed as clear open spaces with mobile furniture and audio-visual tech on each wall to allow for various classroom orientations. Private meeting rooms, a quiet focus room and study booths are distributed across the floorplate, maximises learning opportunities and styles on offer for students.


