CIT Woden Campus: Sound, Sustainability & Education
Project Information
Location: Canberra, Australia
Products used: EchoPanel 24mm, Pico Embossed Panel, Array 24mm, Aire 25mm
Designer: Gray Puksand
Developer: Infrastructure Canberra and Lend Lease
Installer: UTJ and Interline
Date: 2025
Photography: Matthew Sherren
A bold new chapter in Canberra’s educational and urban landscape is unfolding with the development of the new Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) campus in Woden. The new 22,500m² state-of-the-art vocational training campus accommodates up to 6,500 students, offering a contemporary and highly sustained learning environment.
Designed by leading architecture practice Gray Puksand, in collaboration with Infrastructure Canberra and Lend Lease. The vision conveyed a need to extend beyond mere access and delivering curriculum, but to support how people live, learn and gather. The acoustic strategy played a vital role in realising this vision – creating spaces that sound as good as they feel, while reflecting the values of people they serve.
The design for CIT Woden responds to its setting on Ngunnawal Country, with the architectural form drawing inspiration from the Brindabella Ranges and the surrounding landscape. This connection is expressed in the building’s facade geometry and at roof level, where a striking circular oculus features a wedge-tailed eagle (Mulleun) - a totem of the Ngunnawal people - symbolising the project’s deep respect for Country. Developed in consultation with Indigenous design practice Yerrabingin, the campus authentically integrates Indigenous knowledge and cultural expression through its spatial strategies, material selection, and storytelling.
CIT Woden required a robust acoustic strategy to manage sound across diverse learning zones from smart classrooms, advanced simulated learning spaces, commercial kitchens and hands-on training areas. Woven Image worked closely with Gray Puksand and the project partners to deliver high-performance acoustic treatments that enhance clarity, reduce reverberation and support concentration. The acoustic treatments were selected not only for performance but for their ability to reflect the colours and materials of country. Each floor of the five-level building is distinguished by colour, with muted earth tones at ground level and lighter sky tones above encouraging clear wayfinding. This gradient supports intuitive wayfinding while reinforcing the cultural narrative embedded in the design.
Woven Image Products Specified on CIT Woden:
- EchoPanel 24mm and Pico Embossed Panel was installed in a range of colours throughout corridors, teaching spaces, and breakout areas. The Pico Embossed Panels were paired with additional acoustic backer to achieve a higher Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC).
- Array 24mm in custom baffle design and colour was installed in the library, student services and cafeteria areas.
- Custom EchoPanel 24mm and Aire 25mm in colour Onyx (550) were installed in the Multipurpose space.
The campus runs on 100% renewable energy, achieving 6-Star Green Star Buildings rating. Woven Image’s acoustic finishes contributed to the rating, supplying products that are low emissions, made with post-consumer recycled materials and certified under leading environmental frameworks.
The Woven Image in-house Commercial Services and Project Delivery teams were instrumental in the success of the project. The Commercial Services team supported the designers and architects in bringing this unique, customised project to life by managing queries and quotations, providing expert advice, and ensuring precise technical plans and drawings informed by industry experience.
Meanwhile, the Project Delivery team ensured timely delivery of materials by coordinating closely with designers, in-house operations, and contractors.
CIT Woden redefines what a vocational campus can be: inclusive, sustainable, and deeply connected to its community. This project exemplifies how acoustic design can go beyond technical performance to support engagement and cultural respect.
This project exemplifies Woven Image working collaboratively with other CSR brands including Martini, Himmel, Gyprock, Rondo, Cemintel, and Bradford, showcasing the strength of cross-brand partnerships within the organisation.