A landmark $74 million co-investment from the Rothwell Family Foundation, partnering with the University of Sydney, will create a new building and position the University to be a global leader in architecture, design and built environment education. 

Architects Susan and Garry Rothwell (both AM), alumni and longtime benefactors of the University, are donating $40 million to support the creation of the Rothwell Building, which will connect to the existing, historic Wilkinson Building, where Architecture, Design and Planning has been taught for more than 60 years, and the Rothwells were themselves students. 

It is intended that the new building will connect thoughtfully with the existing Wilkinson Building, which has recently undergone significant refurbishment. Overall, the University will invest $34 million in the two buildings.

 “We are proud to partner with the Rothwells to enrich the experience of another generation of architectural students, creating an essential new space for learning, teaching and research,” said Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott. 

“The Rothwells, who first met as undergraduate architectural students at the University, have been giving back to the University for decades. This extraordinary gift continues that legacy of investment in the future of architecture in Australia. A new building on the Camperdown campus is also a wonderful gift to the University overall, and a welcome addition to the University’s landscape.” 

The 2000m2 building will create a renewal of the Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) precinct adjacent to Cadigal Green. 

The Rothwell’s investment recognises major growth in student demand and the accompanying pressure on facilities. The Rothwell Building will be used by an estimated three hundred Architecture, Design and Planning students at any one time and feature specially-designed studios, fabrication and collaborative learning spaces. 

“This timely gift supports what we have always taken pride in, which is giving our students  learning environments which unlock their creativity, encourage collaboration and hone their expertise,” said Professor Donald McNeill Head of School and Dean of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning. 

“This generous philanthropy reflects a longstanding commitment by the Rothwells to education, excellence in design, and the belief that world‑class learning environments shape the next generation of architects and designers.” 

Beyond meeting demand, the new precinct will play a critical role in educating the architects, urban designers and planners whose work will shape Australia’s cities, buildings and public spaces for decades to come.

Graduates of the School will go on to design housing, workplaces, infrastructure and civic spaces that influence how communities live, work and connect, responding to challenges including density, sustainability, climate resilience and social equity. 

Since completing their undergraduate degrees, Susan (BArch ‘72) and Garry (BArch ‘67) have remained deeply connected to the School, with this year marking 30 years since their first philanthropic gift to the University and their continuing support has focused on providing educational opportunities and inspiration to our aspiring architects. 

Most recently, in 2018, they established the Garry and Susan Rothwell Chair in Architectural Design Leadership program to develop, through architecture and urbanism innovation, the capacity to create environments which improve people’s quality of life. The inaugural Co-Chairs were Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureates Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal, followed by Atelier Bow-Wow represented by Momoyo Kaijima, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Yoichi Tamai. 

Complementing the Chair, the Rothwell Research Studio provides a dedicated platform for collaborative, practice-based research, bringing together students, academics and external partners to explore contemporary architectural questions through design. 

“Our time as students at the University of Sydney shaped how we think about architecture and its role in society,” the Rothwells said.

“We hope this new building will enable and inspire the next generation of urban designers, architects and planners and influence how our cities evolve.”  

Kiyoka Hayashi, a Master’s of Architecture student in her final year, has previously participated in Rothwell Studios.

In 2025 she took part in the Future of Towns 2025 Sustainable Urban Design and Architecture for Regional Places Studio travelling across regional NSW in partnership with current Rothwell Co-Chairs Momoyo Kaijima and Yoichi Tamai of Atelier Bow-Wow to explore the role of architecture in shaping relationships between people, place and Country.

“My participation in the Rothwell Studios saw my values as an emerging architect begin to take clearer form, guided by a growing awareness of responsibility and care. 

“I’m delighted to now learn that the Rothwells are planning this new building for students, it is genuinely exciting. It would represent a space that is more than just a place of study - it is inspiring to imagine a new setting where students gather, develop a sense of belonging and motivate one another. As I’ve learnt from my studies, places like this leave a lasting imprint, shaping not only the experience of a degree but the people who move through it. 

“Throughout long hours, shared challenges, and moments of breakthrough, students can form lifelong friendships that stay with them well beyond their university years.”