Lismore Regional Gallery

Serving as a vital component of Lismore’s cultural sector, the Lismore Regional Gallery is situated adjacent to the Lismore City Library and the Northern Rivers Conservatorium, within the regional city’s Quadrangle. The gallery occupies the former Lismore High School Block C, a building dating back to the 1960s. During the 2022 Lismore floods, the building sustained significant damage and required extensive remedial work.

Bennett Constructions engaged BKA Architecture to design and document the remedial and restoration works, which received $5.1 million in funding allocated by the New South Wales and Federal governments and Lismore City Council. Prior to the floods, the gallery was refreshed with a $5 million investment in 2017 led by DFJ Architecture.

BKA’s study and understanding of the gallery’s history and cultural significance uncovered an opportunity to create dynamic new spaces for the benefit of patrons and artists. Spaces were reconfigured to accommodate a variety of initiatives, including an open-plan reception with a gallery shop to support designers, the conversion of the existing artist’s workshop into a café with extended seating and kitchen, and the establishment of a light-filled new artist studio equipped with amenities.

Due to its location on a floodplain, the project faced challenges in design and material selection for restoration. Materials were meticulously chosen for their flood-resistant properties, which include sealed concrete and epoxy flooring, compact laminate for joinery and partitions, and fibre cement sheets for the walls. Sealants were also applied throughout the building as a preventive measure against water ingress.

The existing infrastructure was enhanced by elevating the electrical systems above the anticipated flood level and relocating storage to the first floor to prevent electrical hazards and damage. Reflecting Lismore Council’s sustainability goals, LED luminaires were installed to be remotely controlled in the exhibition spaces, while power, data, security, and A/C provisions have been integrated into all exhibition spaces.