New teaching world with virtual reality TAFE project

A $80m state of the art TAFE with virtual reality training for tradies has opened about 50km from Sydney’s CBD.

TAFE NSW's $80m Institute of Applied Technology in Kingswood, Sydney, which was developed by Gray Puksand.

A $80m vocational school where students will take virtual reality lessons has opened in Sydney’s west.

The first of its kind training centre will have a focus on construction and simulation rooms, where students will undertake VR training to perform tasks that may be too expensive to perform physically.

The Institute of Applied Technology – Construction is part of TAFE NSW Nepean – Kingswood, with the new building spanning, 7500sq m. It is about 4km from the Penrith CBD and 2km from Western Sydney University’s Warrington Campus.

The virtual reality learning room at the Kingswood Institute of Applied Technology – Construction.

The building was designed by tech-heavy architecture studio Gray Puksand, a firm that’s gung-ho on artificial intelligence.

Digital practice manager Jeames Hanley told The Australian last year that about 90 per cent of the company had access to AI-powered tools, including ChatGPT and Midjourney, that helped staff turn early sketches into renders. The firm, which has around 220 staff, is one of the first architecture firms to embrace this technology head on.

Learning spaces at the Institute of Applied Technology in Kingswood, Sydney.

The TAFE building was developed through a partnership between CPB Contractors, Western Sydney University and TAFE NSW.

The new campus is the second Gray Puksand has designed for TAFE NSW. In 2022, the Institute of Applied Technology Digital and Multi-trades hub at TAFE NSW Meadowbank was completed, costing almost double at $154m. Gray Puksand partners Barry Hackett and Stephen Turner designed both buildings.

The plan for Kingswood was to develop a TAFE that was flexible and could allow for future modification to suit training needs. “Central to our design philosophy was adaptability and flexibility, ensuring that the built environment remains conducive to the ever-evolving needs of skills training, without being constrained by physical limitations as technology advances in the years ahead,” Mr Turner said.

There was also a focus on an open-plan space, to get students of differing trades and studies mingling, he said.

“It prioritises practicality, fosters a robust social environment and provides cutting-edge learning environments, all meticulously tailored to meet the diverse needs of each trade skill base.”

TAFE NSW was seeking a 21st century learning hub that brought trades away from outdated buildings and into modern learning environments, said Brad McAndrew, TAFE NSW chief operating officer.

“The facility has been specifically designed to cater to the skills needs of the construction industry now and into the future,” he said.

The exterior of the new campus.

“It accommodates traditional trades training in large workshop spaces for carpentry, electrical, roof, plumbing, and civil construction, while classroom and makerspaces can deliver micro-credentials and micro­skills in areas such as project management, contract administration, building information modelling, and digital skills in construction,” he said.

The design methodology would remain on full display for students who were curious about its architecture and interior design. Gray Puksand is also designing an Institute of Technology campus in Woden, Canberra, with a value of $250m.