MEDIA
RELEASE
University
Communications
Tel. +61 3 9925 3176
Fax +61 3 9662 2739
MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMAN’S BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Green brain making Melbourne think
Three cutting-edge RMIT University building projects, valued at more than $270
million, are transforming the northern end of Swanston Street, Melbourne’s main
civic axis.
Info Corner, known for its green awning at the corner of Swanston and La Trobe
Streets, is currently being refurbished complete with a new fifth floor and rooftop
canopy resembling a green brain. The eye-catching canopy is designed by Ashton
Raggatt McDougall (ARM), the architects responsible for the award-winning
redesign of neighbouring Storey Hall in 1995.
The new fifth storey will contain a rooftop atrium space for seminars, conferences,
receptions and special events. This level will also connect to the facilities in
architecturally renowned Storey Hall. Early 2010 finish date. Project: $7.5 million.
Adjunct Professor Howard Raggatt, from ARM, said: “With the canopy and the new
façade we wanted to create a soft Penrose tile, a kind of primordial Penrose. The
surfaces are shaped using CADCAM moulds, cast in fibreglass and painted high
gloss. The new rooftop pavilion should look like a green brain.”
Images:
Design Hub has a second-skin of 16,000 sand-blasted glass discs that will rotate
with the sun to help heat, power and cool the building. Design Hub is a 12,000
square metre collaborative research facility at the former CUB site, corner of
Swanston and Victoria streets. Researchers will work across disciplines on projects
in industrial and urban design, fabric and fashion design, architecture and
landscape architecture to develop world-class concepts and initiatives. Basement
concrete pouring is in progress. Mid-2011 finish date. Project: $62 million.
Swanston academic building wraps around the historic Oxford Scholar hotel.
This 11-storey building (inc. basement) will include innovative teaching and
learning spaces, outstanding environmental design and a striking façade featuring
hundreds of angular shaped sun shades. Demolition of 449 Swanston St is now
complete. Early 2013 finish date. Project: Approximately $200 million.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said the
innovative projects were part of RMIT’s $600 million capital works program to
upgrade and consolidate its learning, teaching and research facilities.
Enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Paul Noonan, 0409 239 021,
paul.noonan@rmit.edu.au
ARM architects (Info Corner), Amanda Wallace, 8613 1848 or 0405 395 097.
22 December, 2009
NEWS 
