Sydney School of Entrepreneurship

The SSE was an unprecedented partnership between 11 NSW Universities and TAFE NSW- allowing a new generation of entrepreneurial thinking to thrive, and connecting students from across NSW. Housed in a beautiful art deco brick building hidden within the TAFE Ultimo Campus, the school was originally a shoe factory, and retains many of its original features including steel framed windows and a unique timber block floor.

Working closely with SSE, Fable (previously MAKE Creative) designed a unique learning environment and a thriving platform for future entrepreneurs.  With flexible spaces accommodating varying class sizes and configurations, the school can be reconfigured to enable intimate classes of 20 to grow to lectures of up to 250 people.

The scheme is a pared back response to the space, with series of clean and minimal insertions working to reveal the character and detail of the existing building fabric. The detailing take its cues from the existing Art Deco features of the building –the fluted copper façade detail reinterpreted in solid timber dowelling used throughout.

Working within the existing structure of the building, Fable tucked plywood joinery into existing window bays and framed the main classroom space with a sculptural platform seating and pendant lighting.  Dark lobby spaces were opened up to bring in daylight and maximise visibility – with a new lounge space designed to accommodate a busy events program. We designed a system of robust and flexible furniture – ranging from Deco inspired lounges through to mobile screens and staging systems.

Photos by Luc Remond