The University of Queensland has breathed new life into one of Brisbane CBD’s most distinguished heritage buildings, transforming the state-listed former bank at 308 Queen Street into a contemporary campus for postgraduate students and alumni.
The university purchased the 19th-century banking chambers and its adjoining tower at 88 Creek Street in 2019, establishing UQ’s first official city campus. The adaptive reuse project preserves the building’s grand architectural heritage while creating flexible, modern learning environments.
According to the project architects BVN, the campus comprises three distinct types of spaces: teaching suites, creative suites, and engagement areas designed to accommodate everything from individual study to large-scale industry events.UQ Brisbane City — BVN
The ground floor atrium serves as the campus heart, featuring two key areas. The Long Room provides space for independent and collaborative work, while the Main Lounge offers a premium environment for networking and events. The restored marble floors and reinstated glass dome ceiling with bronze structure create an impressive setting for the university community.
Jennifer Karlson, Vice President of Advancement and Community Engagement at UQ, described the project as “more than a building” but rather “a living legacy” that blends tradition, innovation and community engagement.
Historic rooms surrounding the dome across two floors now function as creative suites for postgraduate students from the architecture and business schools. The larger floor plates in the modern tower annex accommodate adaptable teaching suites with retractable whiteboards that preserve natural light and views when not in use.
The restoration work, undertaken with heritage consultant Architectus Conrad Gargett, took a minimal-interference approach. An underfloor services network delivers power, data, air conditioning and audiovisual capabilities without compromising the heritage fabric. Original fireplaces, windows, doors and plasterwork were carefully restored, with new bronze and brass insertions introduced for modern services.
The design incorporates references to the site’s Indigenous history. Hoop pines, known as Araucaria cunninghamii, once towered over this location. The interior design echoes these lost giants through pinecone patterns cast in perforated brass light fittings. Staircase rugs feature artwork by First Nations artist Tamika Grant-Iramu, while custom carpets throughout the creative suites reference local flora.
BVN principal Brian Donovan said the campus is “genuinely being used as another communal space in the city” by diverse groups, which he considers a measure of success.
The project received recognition from the Australian Institute of Architects, with the jury citation praising the “seamless marriage of modernity and heritage” that enriches UQ’s reputation for innovation while setting new standards for academic environments.
The campus now serves postgraduate students while providing a central hub for UQ’s alumni network, creating what the university describes as “a new forum of exchange” bringing together students, graduates and industry professionals in Brisbane’s CBD.
Published 12-November-2025
