Holding the title of the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest university building, Jackson Architecture’s design for Victoria University sits on a tight site that maximises every inch of the block.
The 32-storey sculpted glass tower has been built with world-class education and student use in mind. The articulated and folded facade creates a distinctive form, with a number of dynamic spaces located within the walls, with the Little Lonsdale Street entrance having a number of historic elements retained. A number of Victorian University campuses have been integrated into the one building, with each floor envisioned as a street, each school a neighbourhood and a whole city within a building.
Woods Bagot handled the interiors, with the design clearly influenced by Melbourne’s urban fabric. What has resulted is a number of diverses spaces which bring the excitement of the city inside. Colour is utilised as a tool for dividing spaces, with warm tones inspiring student engagement and a range of seating options including group tables, lounge furniture, tiered seating, and open banquette areas to facilitate informal collaboration.
The tower visually connects to the street below in an attempt to promote an active and vibrant culture. The student hub, located on Level 10, is reminiscent of an outdoor space at a traditional campus, with green tones integrated amongst a student lounge, balcony and cafe. 48 purpose-built classrooms designed to fit either 18 or 36 students sit throughout the tower, with specialist learning and clinic spaces also found amongst the building.
