University of Canterbury - Kōawa Creative Technologies Precinct

The “sticky campus” is an increasingly common catchphrase, with universities seeking to reimagine their campus experience in the hope of driving activation and engagement. The process inevitably starts with a campus masterplan, often assuming campus attendance is the goal itself. But rather than pursuing activation for activation’s sake, is this a chance to go back-to-the-future and simply focus on offering students what they want? A world-class education that they can’t get anywhere else. 

Warren and Mahoney recently partnered with the University of Canterbury to do just that through the design and delivery of Kōawa Studios - a one-stop digital production facility for content productions. This facility supports their cutting edge digital and screen curriculum and deep partnership with industry. This project illustrates how enhanced education facilities themselves can be the attractors that draw students in and keep them on campus.  

A key aspect of the design was a cultural narrative developed in collaboration with stakeholders, informing a colour palette that responds to the rich flora and fauna of the Canterbury Plains. In addition to this environmental reference, colour psychology played an important role - with thoughtful use of colour to support student wellbeing, spark creativity, and enhance productivity. This approach has been consistently applied across all buildings to create a cohesive and intuitive environment.

The construction phase prioritised sustainability by reusing the existing building structure, significantly reducing the need for new materials and preserving the embodied carbon of the original fabric. The retrofit included upgrades to structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, along with the installation of a new concrete floor slab and roof -  all achieved while maintaining the integrity of the original building.