Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Architect: Hayball.

The Melbourne University Innovation Precinct is a flagship project by the University of Melbourne to lead and drive innovation between academia and industry in the fields of science and engineering. The student accommodation project within the precinct will facilitate the expansion of the University’s specific offering to postgraduate students and visiting academics, as well as catering to undergraduates. The project is driven by three interconnected initiatives: Urban Networks, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability. The building design promotes the use of communal and social amenities throughout the building, with corridors ‘disrupted’ by a transparent atrium, encouraging residents to use the ‘vertical street’ stairs instead of the lift to circulate through the floors. The façade approach creates a responsive skin that reacts to its position and expresses its fabrication. The project leverages pastoral care alongside thoughtful planning to ensure that every individual in the cohort is part of an inclusive community, inviting strong personal networks and authentic connections that thrive within the residential group. The spread and variety of functions offered by the communal atrium and rooftop terraces embrace the activity and vibrancy of on-site communal life. The micro-settings that make up the vertical street respond to two key drivers in the lives of the students: an inclusive approach to the personal, academic and residential needs of the students, and an engaged cohort that meaningfully utilise facilities that work to amplify academic activity and make the most of the university experience. The student accommodation element will sit at the heart of the new precinct showcasing an evolution in university accommodation that is specifically designed to foster information sharing, collaboration and connection through the provision of inspiring social and learning spaces that offer more than just a bed, they offer a home.