UTS Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UTS Building 1 |
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| Alternative names | UTS Central, UTS Tower |
| General information | |
| Type | University administration |
| Architectural style | Late Twentieth Century Brutalist |
| Address | 15 Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′01″S 151°12′03″E / 33.8837°S 151.2007°E |
| Construction started | 1969 |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Cost | A$32 million |
| Client | New South Wales Institute of Technology |
| Owner | University of Technology Sydney |
| Height | 120 metres (390 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Michael Dysart |
| Architecture firm | NSW Government Architect's Office |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (2014) Burtenshaw Scoufis (2011–) |
The UTS Building 1, also known as the UTS Tower, is a very tall and famous building in Sydney, Australia. It stands out on Broadway, right at the edge of Sydney's main city area. This building is home to many important offices for the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). It has 27 floors that are used every day.
The Tower was finished in 1979. It was designed in a style called Brutalist architecture by Michael Dysart in 1968. The official opening was done by the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran.
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Where is the UTS Tower?
The UTS Tower is located at 15 Broadway in Sydney. It's just south of the city's main business district. You can find it close to Central Railway Station and across from a building called One Central Park.
The Tower is surrounded by other UTS buildings. These include the UTS Bon Marche Building and Terraces, which is where the radio station 2SER is located. Next to it is the newer UTS Central, also known as Building 2.
Building History
Plans for the UTS Tower started way back in 1964. The first idea was to build three tall towers and a lower section. But by the mid-1970s, there was less money available from the government. So, the plans were changed to just the main Tower and a smaller 11-level Building 2 next door.
Construction of the Tower began in 1969. Some of the lower floors were ready for use by 1975. When it officially opened in 1979, the UTS Tower was the tallest building used for education in Australia! Building 2 opened a year later in 1980.
The Tower was first used by the NSW Institute of Technology. Then, in January 1988, it became part of the new University of Technology Sydney.
What People Think of Its Style
The UTS Tower has a very unique look. Its architectural style, Brutalism, uses a lot of raw concrete and has a strong, blocky appearance. Because of this, some people have described the Tower in interesting ways. For example, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper and even famous architect Frank Gehry have called it Sydney's "ugliest building."
Journalist Mike Carlton once said it looked like "a menacing concrete monolith." A monolith is a very large, single block of stone. He compared its style to buildings found in old East Germany.
However, not everyone dislikes it! Many people also see the Tower as an important part of Sydney's skyline. They think its visible presence helps show that Sydney is a "University town," meaning a city with a strong focus on education and universities.
Future Ideas for the Building
Over the years, there have been ideas to change the look of the Tower. One idea was from an architect named Chris Bosse. He suggested covering the building with a special lightweight fabric. This fabric could collect rainwater, make electricity, and even help keep the building cool.
However, the university decided not to go with such big changes. Instead, they chose to do simpler updates and improvements. Some people believe that the Tower, with its unique look, has become a key part of the University's identity.
New Building 2 Next Door
As part of a big plan to improve the UTS campus, Building 2 (which was next to the Tower) was taken down in 2016 and 2017. This was to make space for a brand new, exciting area for students and university departments.
The new building, called UTS Central (which is still Building 2), opened in August 2019. It has special walkways that connect directly to the UTS Tower on four different levels. This makes it easy for students and staff to move between the two buildings.
