Project Overview

fjmt were appointed by the University of Melbourne to refurbish a series of State Heritage listed buildings in inner Melbourne. The complex project required a sensitive and rigorous approach to working with some of Victoria’s most important Heritage Buildings including the iconic “Boom Style” Benvenuta mansion.

Medley Hall is a student residential college currently spread across four disparate buildings. The fjmt proposal links the four buildings by inserting a new glass atrium structure, sensitively set back from the highly significant Drummond Street facades. The glass and louvered structure sits atop of a labyrinth that naturally cools the space and helps meet the College’s high sustainable objectives. The carefully crafted glass box responds to its external environmental conditions with a series of mechanically operated louvres that open and shut according to heat loads. Night purging and cross ventilation ensure that comfort conditions are maintained throughout the year. The creation of student lounges on each floor and the reorganization of circulation patterns through the new atrium space have greatly enhanced the sense of belonging for both residents and staff. The College now has a new central heart that connects previously disparate parts through a cohesive functional and dramatic space.

Project Commissioner

The University of Melbourne

Project Creator

Frances-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt)

Team

Richard Francis-Jones - Design Director; Geoff Croker - Project Principal; Lance White - Project architect; Philip Ng - Project Team; Stephen Blanche - Project Team; Christine Crowe - Project Team; Nathan Porter - Project Team; Amanda Beh - Project Team; Matthew Todd - Principal and Landscape Architect; Richard Tripolone - Landscape Architect.

Project Brief

The College’s brief was to improve the overall amenity and image of the College by enhancing connectivity between the four buildings and adding much needed student lounges, conference facilities, additional residential rooms, gymnasium and staff facilities. The existing buildings also had to be sensitively refurbished to meet current fire and access codes. Fjmt worked closely with Lovell Chen Heritage Consultants throughout the duration of the project to ensure the heritage fabric was maintained while allowing for a contemporary addition to tie all existing college buildings together physically and symbolically. In addition there was a desire to change to the profile of the college to a contemporary facility that provided wifi throughout and a bright contemporary feel to complement the rich historic fabric of the heritage buildings.

Project Need

This innovative project had to solve multiple design challenges including working in a tight inner city environment. The insertion of a contemporary intervention into a cluster of heritage buildings required an innovative approach to planning and design. The removal of small sections of the 1970s addition enabled the re-planning of the circulation of the college. Each of the existing buildings on the site has different floor levels that were not previously aligned or connected. The fjmt proposal links the four buildings by inserting a new glass atrium structure, sensitively set back from the highly significant Drummond Street facades. This ensures the streetscape is appropriately resolved at both an urban and architectural scale. 

Design Challenge

The project’s complex brief offered multiple challenges that needed to be addressed through the design process. Providing a quality contemporary environment for a university college within the confines of State List Heritage buildings requires a high level of rigour and skill to conceal services without compromising amenity. Issues such as DDA compliance and code requirements including the addition of sprinklers had to be addressed. An additional residential floor was also constructed atop the 1970s addition, increasing the college’s number of rooms as well as providing an outdoor rooftop space for staff and student recreational use.??

The creation of student lounges on each floor and the reorganization of circulation patterns through the new atrium space have greatly enhanced the sense of belonging for both residents and staff. The new common space has been designed around similar principles of a learning common and is focused on flexible student orientated learning spaces.??

The College now has the highest level of amenity and sustainability while maintaining its unique culture and built environment. 

Sustainability

The glass and louvered structure sits atop of a labyrinth that naturally cools the space and helps meet the College’s high sustainable objectives. The carefully crafted glass box responds to its external environmental conditions with a series of mechanically operated louvres that open and shut according to heat loads. Night purging and cross ventilation ensure that comfort conditions are maintained throughout the year. Further opportunities to incorporate ESD initiatives have been explored with a total review of the four buildings’ existing services.

Interior Design - Public or Institutional

This award recognises building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes and aesthetic presentation. Consideration given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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