The Forest Reaches Practical Completion

Hansen Yuncken is proud to announce that The Forest – the landmark redevelopment of the University of Tasmania’s former Forestry Building in Hobart – has officially achieved Practical Completion.

This milestone marks the culmination of an extraordinary transformation, redefining one of Tasmania’s most recognisable buildings into a modern, sustainable, and community-connected learning hub.

Located in Hobart’s midtown precinct, The Forest has been carefully reimagined to house the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics and the University’s Humanities and Social Sciences Departments, while reconnecting the campus with the surrounding city. The result is a world-class facility that respects its heritage roots while setting new benchmarks for adaptive reuse and sustainable design.

A Legacy Project for Tasmania

CEO/COO George Bardas said The Forest represents the very best of Hansen Yuncken’s capability and purpose:

 

“The Forest is more than a building – it is a legacy for Tasmania. This project exemplifies the value of collaboration, innovation and sustainability. By honouring the original structure and breathing new life into it, the team has created a space that will inspire future generations of students, educators and the wider community.”

 

General Manager, Tasmania Matt Cadle reflected on the significance of delivering such a landmark project:

 

“This has been an incredibly rewarding journey for our Tasmanian business. The Forest showcases what’s possible when heritage, sustainability and community connection come together. From the early planning stages through to Practical Completion, this project has been driven by teamwork, ingenuity and a genuine passion for creating something special for Hobart.”

 

The significance of The Forest has already been recognised on the global stage. The project was awarded Winner – Future: Higher Education & Research at the 2024 World Architecture Festival (WAF), and also received the 2024 WAFX Award for Building Technology. These international honours highlight the project’s leadership in innovation, adaptive reuse and its pioneering application of sustainable materials — proudly positioning Tasmania at the forefront of future-focused design.

Building a Sustainable Future

From the outset, sustainability has been at the heart of The Forest’s design and construction. The project achieved a significant reduction in embodied carbon compared to a conventional new build by reusing the existing structure and prioritising low-carbon materials.

 

Key sustainability features include:

• Heritage Reuse: Preservation of the existing concrete and timber structure, restoring the iconic 22-metre glass dome.
• Innovative Materials: Use of locally sourced timber and one of Australia’s largest commercial applications of hempcrete, a carbon-sequestering and thermally efficient material.
• Biophilic Design: The reinstated “forest beneath the dome” reintroduces native planting within the heart of the building, creating an inner-city green sanctuary that strengthens connections to nature.
• Circular Economy Focus: Reuse and recycling of demolition materials, alongside sourcing from local suppliers to minimise transport emissions.
• Energy and Daylight Efficiency: Maximised natural light, ventilation and energy-efficient systems to enhance occupant wellbeing and reduce operational demand.

Project Manager Alex Gorton paid tribute to the people behind the success:

“Delivering The Forest was a complex task that required precision and creativity from everyone involved. From restoring the dome to integrating new sustainable materials, this project pushed boundaries in all the right ways. Achieving Practical Completion is a reflection of the incredible teamwork and dedication that went into bringing this vision to life.”

A Benchmark for Adaptive Reuse

The Forest stands as a testament to what can be achieved when heritage, design excellence and environmental responsibility align. It reinforces Hansen Yuncken’s commitment to delivering complex, adaptive reuse and sustainability-focused projects – and as a trusted partner to the University of Tasmania in shaping the state’s education landscape.

As it opens its doors to students and staff, The Forest will continue to embody the principles that guided its redevelopment: innovation, collaboration and respect for the environment.