First look inside UniSA’s $50 million Pridham Hall on Hindley St

UNISA’S $50 million sports and graduation hall on Hindley St is completed. We give you the first look inside.

• UniSA’s West End expansion plans

UNISA boss David Lloyd reckons if you squint at the outside from the right angle, the new $50 million sports and graduation centre on Hindley St “looks like a super Star Destroyer from Star Wars”.

But a Doctor Who Tardis analogy works better, because it’s a whole lot bigger inside than it looks from the street.

The Advertiser was granted the first look at the interior of the completed, three-level Pridham Hall, which builders have officially handed over to the university ahead of its first major event, a graduation ceremony in April.

Vice-Chancellor David Lloyd admits his jump shot needs work.

UniSA’s $50 million Pridham Hall on Hindley St is complete.

Named after UniSA graduate and Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham, who donated $5 million towards it, the angular building features a 1600sq m ground level hall for a range of ball sports and martial arts. It has a rock climbing wall and a giant screen, and can be transformed within two days into a graduation hall to seat 1800 people.

Below ground is a 25m pool, gym and dance/aerobics studio, available from May for students, staff and the general public on a membership basis.

Just the second major lap pool in the CBD, half of it is deliberately level and shallow to allow for swimming lessons, particularly for international students.

Upstairs is a viewing deck over the sports hall, and function rooms.

The entry on to the sports hall.

Vice-Chancellor David Lloyd contemplates a dip.

Vice-chancellor Prof Lloyd said the centre would extend the student experience beyond classes and the student lounge.

“It gives us a whole extra dimension for uni life,” he said.

“We know that students want to see decent infrastructure and this is not your garden variety sports centre.

“There used to be a joke that we had a boat but we didn’t have a boathouse, but now we do. And it looks really cool.”

The building is covered in solar panels as the start of a major solar project across the City West campus.

On the outside of the building are “green wing” gardens angled at up to 42 degrees, and amphitheatre-style seating for movie screenings.

The hall will host its first graduation ceremony on April 9.

Sports Hall or Star Wars Star Destroyer? You decide.

No, there’s no diving board. This is the view from the lobby looking over the underground 25m pool.

The best view in the house, from the mezzanine level over the sports hall.