A durable and resilient façade of glazed thin brick tiles completes Monash University’s new Logan Hall student accommodation building.
Melbourne’s McBride Charles Ryan Architects have brought Monash University’s aim to life of creating true urban communities in quintessentially Australian style, with its award winnning design of the new Logan Hall student accommodation at the Clayton Campus. Officially opened by The Honourable Linda Dessau AM, The Governor of Victoria, Logan Hall completes the University’s new state-of-the-art living precinct.
Driven by the Clayton Campus Masterplan 2011-2023, completed by MGS Architects, the University’s aim was to resolve a challenge common to many Australian Universities – a critical shortage of onsite student accommodation – by providing more than 4000 student beds on campus by 2030. With a $145 million budget and more than 3,500 precast concrete panels later, Monash University has made significant inroads in meeting this aim. Four new student accommodation halls have been built and one, in particular, Logan Hall, is turning heads across the building, architecture and design communities.
While Logan Hall’s leading edge design focused on accessibility and developing a strong sense of community, sustainable design and construction was also central to its development to achieve a 5-star-as-built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. The development includes 250 self contained studio rooms, each with as well as shops and cafes on the ground floor, creating a vibrant urban feel. The building’s fixed shading, high performance glazing and thermal mass and insulation achieved a durable, high performing structure.
Completed in December 2015, the construction of Logan Hall was a resounding success thanks to the quick and efficient brick inlay system, supplied by Robertson Façade Systems. This was used to fit glazed cyan tiles in to concrete panels, creating the building’s façade. Not only did the glazed tiles add colour and character, but also resulted in an exceptionally hardwearing and resilient facade that will last the building’s lifetime, with no ongoing maintenance costs.
The form of the building was influenced by environmental best practice to manage solar gain and maximise natural light. And, the understated variations in the panel shapes of the façades manipulate the light and provide natural variegation.
Not surprisingly, Logan Hall has won two awards this year: The Australian Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Award, and the 2016 Dulux Colour Awards. The AIA judging panel commenting that, “McBride Charles Ryan has delivered a playful residence for the university students at Monash Clayton”. In particular, noting the skill of the architects in developing the stepped and tessellating façade, which brings the campus to life.
For Robertson Façade Systems and Robertson’s Building Products, who supplied the brick facing tiles, the Dulux Colour Awards were most pleasing. The judges commenting that “Logan Hall boasts a great use of monochromatic colour used to highlight articulation in the façade. The combination of the coloured glazed brick tiles with a simple palette creates a harmonious and amazing combination, setting a new benchmark for multi-residential exteriors.”
There is no doubt that Professor Malcolm Logan AC, former Vice Chancellor and President of Monash University, after whom Logan Hall was named, will also be thrilled with the lively, colourful and hard-wearing result of this clever and inspiring project.
For more information on the construction of the Monash student accommodation building, please contact Robertson Façade Systems
