The University of Tasmania’s The Forest redevelopment is one of the most ambitious adaptive-reuse projects ever undertaken in Tasmania. A fusion of heritage preservation, sustainable innovation and contemporary learning design.

“Hansen Yuncken initially engaged in an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase, collaborating closely with the University of Tasmania and the design team to refine construction methodologies, material strategies and project staging for this highly complex adaptive reuse,” said Hansen Yuncken Project Manager, Alex Gorton.

“Following ECI, we transitioned into the delivery phase under a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract, taking responsibility for the full redevelopment, including structural adaptation, restoration and the complete internal fitout.”

This continuity from design refinement to construction, gave the University confidence that the team could manage the complexity of such a significant transformation. “It ensured certainty across budget, programme and buildability for one of the University’s most ambitious transformation projects,” Alex explained.

Adaptive reuse sits at the intersection of engineering difficulty and architectural aspiration, and The Forest exemplified this. Multiple interconnected buildings, diverse structural eras and heritage-listed components created a web of technical challenges. “The Senior Structural Engineer described it as the most complex temporary works design of his career,” said Alex.

Tight internal spaces, limited access, heritage fabric to retain, and structural systems that needed to be partially stabilised, partially rebuilt and entirely reimagined to support the new design provided an array of unique challenges of the project team. However, the benefits of working within an adaptive reuse environment is increasingly becoming a preferred, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to demolition and rebuild.

Environmental responsibility shaped every material and construction decision. Hansen Yuncken worked with the design team to retain as much of the existing building fabric as possible, preserving embodied carbon and minimising demolition waste. Life-cycle assessments guided every finish and furniture selection, ensuring sustainable certification and end-of-life recycle-ability.

The materials strategy became one of the project’s most extraordinary achievements. Mass timber was selected for its low embodied carbon and minimal waste. Locally produced Hempcrete was installed at a scale that makes The Forest home to the largest hempcrete installation in the Southern Hemisphere. Natural, recycled and regionally sourced materials rounded out the circular economy approach.

Delivering mass timber structures, hempcrete wall systems and the breathtaking ‘forest beneath the dome’ required years of planning. The long ECI period allowed Hansen Yuncken to secure Australian-grown timber feedstock, plant and cultivate Tasmanian hemp crops, and identify and rehome Tasmanian native trees in nurseries until installation.

From the outset, the project team—including HY, Woods Bagot, the University and key consultants—established a shared project charter emphasising communication, respect and patience. “The team embraced this approach, taking pride in meeting the programme and achieving the exceptional quality evident in the final built form,” Alex explained.

Digital coordination tools such as Autodesk Construction Cloud kept programme and quality tightly managed, contributing to a delivery that achieved handover on the exact day promised.

The outcome is not only a striking educational facility but a sustainable precinct that enriches student life and the broader community.

“Every contributor operated with transparency, collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence. No individual sought to be the hero,” said Alex. “We are proud to have delivered a transformative environment that will profoundly enhance teaching, learning and research opportunities at the University of Tasmania.”

For more information contact Hansen Yuncken, 39 Patrick Street, Hobart TAS 7000, phone 03 6215 4600, email hobart@hansenyuncken.com.au, website www.hansenyuncken.com.au