Murphy and von Zedlitz, which flank Kelburn Parade, have been reclad and repaired for weathertightness, Rankine Brown (which houses the Kelburn Library) has had new windows installed, Robert Stout has been reroofed, and some laboratories and lecture theatres have been renovated.

A flagship project has been replacing the leaky Hunter Atrium.

The Atrium is the area through which nearly every new student and many visitors will pass when they arrive on Kelburn campus. Administrative services for students are concentrated around this space, and it is also the main entry to the historic Hunter Council Chamber and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

Encased by glass, the new Atrium is light and airy. Its modern architecture stands in striking contrast to the historic Hunter and Robert Stout buildings that adjoin it. These two buildings are connected by suspended walkways that provide a vantage point to appreciate the Atrium’s light and space.

Outside the Atrium, you are met by dark zinc exterior cladding jutting from the glass above the Hunter Courtyard entrance. This cladding references the same material and architectural forms used for the Hub and Adam Art Gallery, which are also on Kelburn campus. The form could be thought of as a ‘container of knowledge’—a ‘forehead’, in the case of the Atrium—whereas the Hub suggests a ‘cranium’. The architectural concepts were provided by Tennent Brown Architects, and construction carried out by LT McGuinness.

The 10-month project to replace the Atrium ended when its doors opened on 10 August 2020.