Construction Begins

Construction on the university’s administration buildings and first research facilities and laboratories began in the early 1950s. This work occurred in two phases, beginning with the administration buildings followed by temporary laboratories for the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Department of Geophysics. These “temporary” structures existed for over 40 years, with a few surviving to this day, having been adapted for use as staff offices.    

Lewis’ original site plan was amended in 1953, to incorporate the Physical Sciences Buildings to be built running north to south on the flatter topography of the ridge.  

In September 1954 site planning was taken over by Professor Denis Winston and Grenfell Rudduck. Their focus was on the self-sufficiency of each building group and not rigidly conforming “to a preconceived architectural scheme for the whole university” (Godden Mackay Loggan Heritage Consultants 2012). The legacy of their design was the informal nature of the campus, “with the dominant effect being one of separate clusters of buildings set in landscaped open space” (Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants 2012, p.88). 

Winston was strongly influenced by the Garden City style of planning and the feeling of buildings set in a park. However, many were critical of the disconnected nature Winston and Ruddock’s plan had on the campus, both in respect to the physical proximity between buildings and the different architectural styles used (Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants 2012, p.88).  

References

Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants 2012, ANU Heritage Study Acton Campus. Volume 1: Heritage Study,  

Dexter, D 1991, The ANU Campus, Australian National University Press, Canberra. 

Banks, J & Gaardboe, M 1996, Building and Landscapes: the Australian National University, Canberra, ANU Divisions of Facilities and Services and Public Affairs, Canberra.