The visually alluring new visitor centre takes its cue from the Australian Synchrotron’s international role as a sophisticated, high technology research facility using light as a medium. Providing a gateway and new public face for the campus, the contemporary, innovative and intelligent architecture for the Centre is a confident symbol and celebration of the Synchrotron’s ground-breaking work.

The large foyer/gallery space on the ground floor doubles as an event space and extends to encircle the lecture theatre – a further reference to the Synchrotron’s endless circular motion. Striated and filmed translucent, acrylic panels, infuse the gallery space with a polychromatic ethereal light.

Plastic lenses inserted into skylights are positioned around the perimeter of the theatre, pushing natural light down and through the wall cavity to form a stunningly radiant built presence of high brilliance. The resulting shimmering quality makes the constant movements of light visible. This treatment references the Synchrotron’s dynamic manipulation of light and minimises the gallery’s use of artificial light during the day.