Western Sydney University students to get hands-on delivery of Powerhouse Museum

Students will gain real-life experience in their own backyard and have a hand in the building’s design and delivery and help shape the future development of Sydney’s cultural institution.

Sydney’s future architects and engineers will help shape the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta from the ground up.

Students from Western Sydney university will gain real-life experience in their own backyard and have a hand in the building’s design and delivery and help shape the future development of Sydney’s state-of-the-art cultural institution.

The partnership between Western Sydney University, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and Infrastructure NSW will include teaching and learning activities, research projects, events and ongoing Powerhouse programming opportunities.

Powerhouse Parramatta impression images. Credit: Moreau Kusunoki and Genton

Member for Parramatta and minister for skills and tertiary education, Geoff Lee, said the skills and insights these students will receive on the project will be “invaluable in driving their careers forward”.

“They will be able to look back on the roles they played in a city-shaping project which will bring the world to Parramatta,” Minister Lee said.

It will also provide opportunities to ambitious students in the youngest and most culturally diverse region in Sydney.

Brittany Wells. Picture: Sally Tsoutas

And construction management student Brittany Wells, 22, can’t wait to get her hands dirty.

“We’ll have the opportunity to get on-site experience and learn about the challenges, materials and the regulations and codes, rather than absorbing what comes out of a textbook,” she said.

“The institution will stand out against nearby buildings and incorporate natural elements. It’ll be more integrated into the environment rather than looking like a typical structure.”

Not daunted by being in a field dominated by blokes, Ms Wells is among many young females working hard to change the industry’s stereotype of men working in construction.

“I like the idea of going into a male-dominated industry and making my mark,” she said. “There are very few females in my course. I’m hoping to change that.”