Communications with students about the new building
A New Building for the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the Faculty getting a new building?2. Is the Architecture building being demolished?
3. Why knock down these buildings? Why not refurbish them?
4. Where will the Faculty be located during the construction phase?
5. What will be located in each of these buildings during the decanting period? Can I expect the same services and facilities in 757 Swanston St and Lincoln Square that I currently have in the Architecture Building?
6. What about the Library?
7. Will the spaces in 757 Swanston and 33 Lincoln Square South be refurbished before we relocate in 2012?
8. What opportunities will there be to learn from the new building?
9. What will happen to the façade of the Old Commerce building and other historical elements?
10. Will I still be able to access computer facilities?
11. What will the new building look like? Who will use it?
Overview Questions
1. Is the Faculty getting a new building?
A. Yes, ABP is working towards construction of a world-class, purpose built facility. Designed by John Wardle Architects (Melbourne) and NADAAA (Boston), the new building will be constructed on the site of the existing Architecture and Old Commerce buildings. Construction works are due to commence at the end of 2012 and we will move into the new building in early 2015.
2. Is the Architecture building being demolished?
A. Yes, the plan at this stage is that both the Architecture Building and its neighbour, the Old Commerce Building, will be demolished early in 2013. This will be an exciting step towards construction of our brand new, purpose-built building.
3. Why knock down these buildings? Why not refurbish them?
A. It is evident that our current facilities are reaching the end of their serviceable life, and will not be able to adequately meet the future needs of the Faculty. In planning for our Faculty’s future, we undertook a measured assessment of the buildings future and have been advised that the best long term option would be to demolish the current facilities and replace with a more sustainable building. We are acting now to ensure that the Faculty transitions into appropriate and sustainable facilities, which can accommodate our expanding staff, student and research needs.
4. Where will the Faculty be located during the construction phase?
A. During construction, we will remain on campus, with the Faculty decanting to newly refurbished facilities in two locations. The majority of teaching activity will take place in 757 Swanston St (formerly the Arts Centre). Research and graduate activities will be focused in 33 Lincoln Square South. The Environments and Design Student Centre will remain in its current location in the Baldwin Spencer Building. We are currently planning to move into these refurbished spaces at the end of semester two, 2012.
5. What will be located in each of these buildings during the decanting period? Can I expect the same services and facilities in 757 Swanston St and Lincoln Square that I currently have in the Architecture Building?
A. We are working to ensure that the quality of the facilities and level of service that students receive continues to be of the highest possible standard.
757 Swanston St. This seven-storey building will become our ‘Faculty Hub, housing the majority of ABP staff offices and teaching spaces. As part of the refurbishment of this building, a range of facilities are being constructed, including teaching and learning spaces for MSD and Bachelor of Environments (BEnvs) students, exhibition spaces, student print rooms and digital and construction workshops. Access to model making and informal study spaces will be available for BEnvs student 24/7.
33 Lincoln Square South will become our ‘Graduate Hub’ focusing on research higher degree (RHD) and masters student experience. It is only a short walk from 757 Swanston Street. Over three floors, we will provide workspaces for RHD students and accommodation for key research groups. At least one floor will be dedicated to open studio workspaces for MSD students.
The Baldwin Spencer Building: The Student Centre will remain in the Baldwin Spencer Building for the duration of construction. There will be no change to the Student Centre and the current spaces located within it including the Student Lounge, Design Hall, English Room and staff offices. Both the Design Hall and Lounge will remain available to all MSD and BEnvs students 24 hours a day.
6. What about the Library?
A. The Architecture, Building and Planning Library is recognised as housing the best collection of texts on the built environment in Australia and will be retained in our new building. Planning is underway to relocate the library to the Eastern Resource Centre in mid-2012 and it will then rejoin the Faculty in 2015. The Eastern Resource Centre is located very closely to 757 Swanston Street. To minimise disruption to students, the library will be relocated at the end of semester one, 2012 and will be fully operational in its new home by the start of second semester, 2012.
7. Will the spaces in 757 Swanston and 33 Lincoln Square South be refurbished before we relocate in 2012?
A. Yes, plans are well underway to refurbish most of 757 Swanton St and Lincoln Square to accommodate us while construction of the new building takes place. Melbourne architecture firm Six Degrees are currently developing the design for these areas with refurbishment works being undertaken during 2012. As part of the refurbishment, we will be able to provide more resources such as digital whiteboards. As part of the refurbishment works, we will be testing / prototyping new technologies which will be carried over into the new building. . Moving into these spaces will be staged. Teaching will remain in the Architecture Building for both semester one and two, 2012.
8. What opportunities will there be to learn from the new building?
A. The construction of the new Faculty building will bring many learning opportunities for our students, both coursework and research. Staff are being encouraged to link their teaching to the possibilities provided by this project. Construction students, for example, will have the unique opportunity to witness and study the construction of a building at their doorstep. We envisage a range of student research projects will also be undertaken. Once constructed, the building will be used as a learning and teaching tool with students able to access and monitor critical elements of the building’s design.
9. What will happen to the façade of the Old Commerce building and other historical elements?
A. The two buildings being demolished contain many historical elements and we are working to ensure that they are retained in some form. An example of this is the heritage-listed Joseph Reed ‘classical’ façade. Gifted to the University in the 1930s, it has overlooked the concrete lawn for generations of students. It will be retained in its current location and is being incorporated as a critical design element in the façade design of the new building. The Japanese Room is another outstanding cultural feature of the Faculty. Another donation to the Faculty, it is entirely built without nails. It will be dismantled, and reassembled in the new building.
Over recent years, we have also created a digital archive which captures information about the Faculty since the early 1960s. A living document, it contains a range of resources related to the history of the Faculty including images, drawings, floorplans, photographs, recollections of events, details of exhibitions and Architecture Reviews. It will shortly be available online for staff and students to add to as well as being a resource for future studies.
10. Will I still be able to access computer facilties?
A. We currently provide computer labs in the Architecture building that students use for timetabled classes and general access. In 757 Swanston St, there will be three dedicated computer labs – two for timetabled classes and one dedicated student lab available 24/7. Informal study spaces throughout the building will also provide 24/7 computer access and students with laptops can access the university’s wifi network. There will be a dedicated print room for students similar to that currently provided in the existing Architecture building. 33 Lincoln Square South will have computers available to MSD students to use 24/7. Students will also continue to have 24 hour access to the Design Hall and Lounge in the Baldwin Spencer Building.
11. What will the new building look like? Who will use it?
A. Our Faculty aspires to be one of the world’s leading architecture and design centres and our new building will contribute towards the achievement of this goal. We are very excited about the presence our new landmark building will have in the heart of campus, and in the city of Melbourne. The architects are currently working on finalising the design development and we will be launching the design of the new building at the start of semester one, 2012.
The environment created for the Melbourne School of Design and the teaching of Bachelor of Environments programs will be student-centric, facilitative of a strong studio culture, equipped with the most appropriate technology and resources and nurturing of strong staff-student relationships. At the same time, it will continue to provide facilities to nurture the incubation of the innovative research on which the Faculty’s reputation rests. Above all, the building will be designed for change.
Our building will not just be for the Faculty and the University of Melbourne, it will be a home for our professional communities. It will be a hub to which our alumni can return again and again – to use the world-class library, to engage with academics and students and to enjoy the rich calendar of lectures, events and exhibitions which we present.
Do you have any more questions?
Please contact us via email msd-studentcentre@unimelb.edu.au
