The new multimillion-dollar Waterloo Youth, Family and Community Centre designed by Collins and Turner Architects will is opening this Saturday.

Artists impression.

The architects included energy efficient materials throughout the build, particularly low-energy lighting, natural ventilation as well as rainwater tanks.

Collins and Turner designed a steel canopy which provides shading and insulation for rooms underneath with the aim being for the roof to eventually blend into the surrounding park as a vegetable garden will grow on top creating a 'green roof'.

Slate roof tiles have also been recycled into pebbles for the garden and railway sleepers made from one of Australia’s first plantations of ironwood in the 1930s have been transformed into timber pavers for the internal courtyard.

Canopy plan - showing internal courtyard and steel structure. Image courtesy Collins and Turner

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore said that the building will have a positive impact on the community not only for its function as a centre but also for its sustainable design.

“The Waterloo Community Centre, with its unique green roof and sustainable design, will be the new home for Weave — an independent non-profit organisation that does great work educating, empowering and encouraging many people in the local community,” the Lord Mayor said.

East West Section. Image courtesy of Collins and Turner

The project was largely funded by a $2 million grant from the Federal Government’s Community Infrastructure Program. It has been purpose built for non-profit group Weave who help over 2,000 children, parents and families get back on their feet each year - 65 percent who are indigenous.

Madeline Prince

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