JCB led the Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the University of Melbourne’s New Student Precinct. The project brief was to relocate the centralised Union House to the campus edge at the corner of Grattan and Swanston Streets.

This high level, yet detailed framework unearthed the challenges and opportunities of accommodating student facilities across a ‘village’ of nine buildings.

A key focus was on ‘unifying’ the ground plane through removal of an intrusive central raised plaza. This significantly improves the student and public realm experience, allowing activation of building interfaces and access for all mobilities.

The UDF also identified development envelope and green roof opportunities, and sensitive heritage and adaptive reuse proposals that restore the heritage heart and sense of orientation to the precinct centre.

• Country

  Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung

• Year

  2016

• Client

  The University of Melbourne

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