Melbourne Connect was designed to be Australia’s leading innovation precinct. Developed by the University of Melbourne in partnership with a consortium led by Lendlease and including GIC, Urbanest, Spotless and NDY, it is designed to house a thriving ecosystem where students, industry, researchers, government and entrepreneurs can integrate and collaborate from idea conception through to delivery.
The project features 35,000 m² of A Grade office space for the Melbourne School of Engineering, as well as co-working and commercial tenants that include a Fabrication Laboratory; Science Gallery Melbourne; generous retail space; and the “Superfloor”, a 3,000 m² shared meeting and events space. The project will also deliver 527 purpose built apartments by Urbanest Student Accommodation.
Built on the site of the old Royal Women’s Hospital, the precinct is a series of connected buildings focused around a central “Oculus”, an open green space with interconnecting laneways and boutique retail, formal and informal spaces for learning, events and leisure.
To fully realise the potential of this project, NDY integrated the requirements of multiple sectors including education, commercial and technical, to create a bespoke design that enhances the collaborative power of all tenants and occupants.
Project Details
Market Sector:
Education
Client: University of Melbourne
Architect: Woods Bagot, Hayball
Contractor: Lendlease
Value: $500 m
Completion: 2021
