The Shellharbour Civic Centre was arguably the most hated building in the Illawarra during its construction, sparking protests, political activist groups and a debate on the floor of parliament.
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But the $60 million building - initially known as the hub - is now in the running to be named as one of the state's best public architecture projects.
The council headquarters is among eight projects from around the state to be shortlisted for the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects' public architecture award.
Chapter president Kathlyn Loseby said the centre stood out among nominees because the council had been a "courageous" client who worked closely with the architects to design a building benefitting the community.
"It's a grand building, I would say, because of its scale but at the same time it's a very welcoming and accessible building," she said.
She said the building had created a "sense of place, purpose, belonging and ownership" and allowed residents to use it at various stages of their life.
For Shellharbour mayor Marianne Saliba, the award nomination is one more piece of proof that she and her council did the right thing by ignoring the backlash and going ahead with the hub project.
"This doesn't surprise me at all because we've already been recognised for our library, and we're even in the running for an international award," she said.
"I never had any doubt that what we were doing was the right thing to do... but being recognised does confirm what we already know."
She said the building had played host to numerous community events since it opened early last year, contributed to an increase in library memberships and even created a more productive workplace for council staff.
The building was designed by DesignInc and Lacoste and Stevenson. Director of the latter, Terry Lacoste, said he was aware of the controversy surrounding the building.
"It didn't have an impact on the brief we were given by the council, but we were hoping to convince people that it was a good idea," he said.
"I think it has been well received, and there was a lot of public consultation during the design process, so in that way it was very democratic."
He said he believed the most successful element of the building was the public square, which has meant that all the public areas of the building can be seen and accessed from the ground floor.
Other contenders for the award include the State Library of NSW renewal, the NSW Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court complex in Lidcombe, and Sydney's Green Square library and plaza.
The winner will be announced on July 5.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
