A sleek, sophisticated, transparent building with smart glazing will create a ‘stage within the city’ for the University of Newcastle

The $25m building will provide a range of flexible spaces capable of reacting to the changing needs of the users. Shared spaces will include educational seminar and conference spaces, informal networking event spaces, exhibitions and demonstration of innovations.

University Infrastructure and Facilities Services Director, Mr Brian Jones, said the building, designed by EJE Architecture, would facilitate community and industry engagement; housing an Innovation Hub, as well as new facilities for the University's School of Creative Industries.

"We are proud to reveal the design for the first building on our Honeysuckle City Campus Development. This building demonstrates our commitment to supporting Newcastle as a city of the future – a smart city with a thriving entrepreneurial spirit and a vibrant creative scene," Mr Jones said.

EJE Architecture Director, Anthony Furniss, said the building was destined to become 'a stage within the city' – a showcase of creators and innovators.

"The design creates a clean, crisp space for creators and innovators to interrupt the city as they choose…Much like a gallery – the building is pared back and sleek to reveal the activity inside – essentially it allows the University to 'reveal itself to the community,” Mr Furniss said.

The Innovation Hub space will facilitate co-working, meetings, and collaboration, while the School of Creative Industries space will include state-of-the-art teaching and learning studios.