Construction begins on the New Student Precinct

Construction of a world-class precinct for the University of Melbourne has now commenced. The New Student Precinct will bring together student services, events, activities, and new retail opportunities to create a vibrant centre of activity on the Parkville campus.

NEW STUDENT PRECINCT CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE

The construction program below outlines key activities that will be undertaken as part of these works.

COMMENCED – REFURBISHMENT OF 1888 BUILDING: The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has relocated to the Doug McDonell Building while the 1888 Building is fully renovated.  The GSA team will continue to provide representation, services, events, training and support for enrolled graduate students during this time. GSA are located at the Level 3 entrance to the Eastern Resource Centre (ERC) Library and can be accessed via the internal elevator and staircase in the Doug McDonell Building or via the external staircase accessed via Porter’s Lane. Learn more.

COMMENCED – DEMOLITION OF ALICE HOY BUILDING: The Alice Hoy Building will be replaced by the Student Pavilion Building. The existing building was assessed in recent years, in line with the University’s Building Replacement Framework, and deemed unsuitable for refurbishment and is at the end of its useful life. The department of Optometry and Vision Sciences will be relocating to 200 Berkeley Street (Building No. 260) in Quarter 2, 2020.

COMMENCING MID-2020 – ERC LIBRARY REDEVELOPMENT: The ERC will be inaccessible from 25 May 2020 – August 2021. During this time, essential resources for students will be located in other libraries on the Parkville campus.  All other ERC resources will be transferred to an off-site storage facility and will be accessible to students and staff via online requests.This extensive redevelopment will include increased study spaces, bookable collaborative spaces, food and retail, a digital technologies area and a scholarly commons. Learn more.

COMMENCING MID-2020 – CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ARTS AND CULTURAL BUILDING: Located on Monash Road, the new Arts and Cultural Building will host an array of retail, informal student and event spaces, focused on creating a vibrant cultural hub for students in the Precinct. Learn more.

COMMENCING LATE-2020 – CONSTRUCTION OF NEW STUDENT PAVILION: The Student Pavilion will be the Precinct’s ‘Neighbourhood’ building, and will house some of the Precinct’s food and retail tenancies on the ground floor, with the upper levels accommodating the Rowden White Library, student activity rooms, a rooftop garden, student kitchen, Food Co-op and informal study spaces. Learn more.

COMMENCING EARLY-2021 – REFURBISHMENT OF DOUG MCDONELL BUILDING: The lower five floors of the Doug McDonell building will be refurbished to provide a new home for UMSU, with active, student-centred office and meeting spaces that will also be available for student informal study. A new four level glazed, mixed-mode atrium structure will open up the existing concrete structure with natural light and views. Learn more.

COMMENCING MID-2021 – REFURBISHMENT OF FRANK TATE BUILDING: The Frank Tate building will be remodelled to be transformed into a Market Hall that will be used for programmed events and activities. Learn more.

COMMENCING LATE-2021 - NORTHERN LANDSCAPING: A new amphitheatre and surrounding landscaping will create an outdoor performance venue as well as offer quiet and contemplative spaces at the heart of the Precinct.

COMMENCING LATE-2021 – SOUTHERN LANDSCAPING: Southern landscaping and lanes will provide smaller scaled connections through the precinct as well as host new retail tenancies supporting student and staff use of the precinct. Learn more about the Precinct landscape.

The bulk of the Precinct is scheduled for completion by the end of 2021 – early 2022.

*Please note that the Project Team are currently developing a strategy that will identify opportunities to name and rename different spaces across the Precinct.

For further information on the New Student Precinct construction program please contact Project Manager, Mandy Meehan.