Powerhouse Parramatta

Powerhouse Parramatta is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform and renew one of Australia’s oldest and most important cultural institutions. It is also the most significant investment in cultural infrastructure since the Sydney Opera House and the first major cultural institution to be established in Western Sydney.

There will be 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space, providing increased access to the museum’s extraordinary collection. It is expected to attract two million visitors annually. It will be the largest museum in NSW and the leading science and technology museum in the Southern Hemisphere. Bringing to life the architectural features of the design by Paris-based Moreau Kusunoki and Sydney-based architectural practice Genton.

The Jury was unanimous in recommending the team of Moreau Kusunoki and Genton as the winner of the International Design Competition. The Jury found the proposal to be a standout, simple and elegant solution, with a strong identity derived from the building’s architecture and structure. The generosity of space, transparency and lightness of the form created a ‘sense of joy’ that encapsulates the ambitions of Powerhouse Parramatta. Lendlease Building has been appointed the main construction works contract.

Centrally located in Parramatta CBD on the bank of the Parramatta River. It will be a short walk from a range of public transport options, including the Metro, Light Rail, ferries, buses and the Railway Station.

Powerhouse Parramatta Exoskeleton Prototype

Fun Powerhouse Parramatta Facts

• It is one of the largest structural engineering and architecturally complex projects currently underway in the country.
• Designed so that the superstructure is a celebrated architectural feature that articulates the façades. It has three types of steel lattices as an exoskeleton.
• There will be seven large-scale exhibit spaces for the Powerhouse collection. Exhibition Space 1 will be Australia’s largest column-free exhibition space.
• It houses Powerlab, a co-working space for Powerhouse employees, researchers, industry, partners, students and community members to be in one collaborative area.
• The Lang Walker Family Academy will host world-class immersive STEM education experiences for over 10,000 high school students from Western Sydney and regional NSW every year, including overnight stays.

With over 500,000 objects in its collection, the Powerhouse is recognised internationally as one of the great repositories of shared stories of innovation and achievement. It provides a comprehensive insight into our rich and diverse country.

No museum in Australia is better placed to demonstrate the continued impact of the applied arts and sciences on our world through technology, innovation, design and engineering.

Source: Information and images from Infrastructure NSW, Powerhouse Parramatta, Moreau Kusunoki and Genton.