Appointment of New Student Precinct architect design team
The University of Melbourne has appointed a team of architects and designers, led by Lyons Architecture, to design the $229 million New Student Precinct on the Parkville Campus.
The precinct, which is being co-created with students, will deliver a new series of student spaces that will include a diversity of social spaces, mixed-use retail, food and beverage outlets and increased contemporary study spaces for the whole campus community.
The precinct will encompass nine buildings and bring together the University’s student unions, academic services, and the Institute for Indigenous Development, Murrup Barak, for the first time. It will significantly reshape and revitalise the landscape and built environment of the site.
New Student Precinct Project Sponsor and Head of University Services Paul Duldig said the University is committed to providing a world-class experience for its students.
“The precinct, which will be co-created with students, will transform the cultural, social and engagement opportunities for students and set a new benchmark,” Mr Duldig said.
Melbourne School of Design Chair of Architectural Design and member of the architect selection panel Donald Bates said the University invited five out of 40 applicant teams to present their concept and design.
“The selection process fostered and supported submissions from some of the most speculative and innovative design and spatial practitioners in Australia and overseas,” Professor Bates said.
“The finalists each provided a unique vision for how the University of Melbourne embraces the changing role and experience of education, research and community engagement.
"The winning team fulfils the ambitious goals of the New Student Precinct process to produce a lasting legacy in the new centre for the campus.”
Principal architects Lyons Architecture will collaborate with a team of specialists and leading designers, including Koning Eizenberg Architects from the USA (led by alumni Julie Eizenberg and Hank Koning), Aspect Studios, Breathe Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Glas Urban and Architects EAT.
Lyons founding director Carey Lyon said they are delighted to be leading a collaboration of landscape designers and architects to create an incredible new precinct for students on the Parkville Campus.
“Our design team, who are all university alumni, are looking forward to working closely with students so that the design positively reflects their aspirations for a campus experience,” Mr Lyon said.
An exhibition of the architectural Concept and Design Responses from the five shortlisted architect teams is currently on display in the Basement Foyer of the Melbourne School of Design until Friday 23 March.
The teams will also make a presentation on Friday 16 March as part of Melbourne Design Week. The New Student Precinct is expected to be completed by 2021-2022.