Venue
Melbourne School of Design
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
Masson Road
The University of Melbourne
Parkville
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The building was officially launched on the 11th December 2014. Located at the centre of the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus, the building is a state-of-the-art academic facility, designed in collaboration by John Wardle Architects (Melbourne) and NADAAA (Boston). A large-scale laboratory for built environment education and research, the building sets a new standard for design education in the Asia-Pacific region.
The design of the building facilitates collaborative interdisciplinary engagement and the critical exploration of complex built environment issues. The unique transparency of the space supports the vision of a pedagogical building. Exposed materials and structures, such as the underside of the Y-Stairs, give insight into construction techniques and fabrication. Features such as the steel mesh balustrade and open top gallery allow for sight-lines and transparency between levels.
Embedded in the design is a commitment to sustainability and green architecture. The Melbourne School of Design building has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star Design - Education Design v1 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia and is the first education facility to be awarded the maximum 10 Green Star innovation credits.
(Photo by James Rafferty)