La Trobe University starts $100 million student accommodation project at Bundoora campus
Construction is now underway on La Trobe University’s $100 million student accommodation project at its Melbourne campus in Bundoora.
It is the largest investment for a single project in the university’s history.
The project is part of a $5 billion plan to transform its Bundoora campus into a University City of the Future.
JCB Architects have designed the sustainable and environmentally-conscious spaces, with construction by Multiplex.
Providing an additional 624 beds, the accommodation will be delivered in two new buildings that will utilise mass timber construction to be the largest project of its kind in Victoria.
The accommodation will comprise a range of apartments and common amenities spaces, as well as landscaping connecting the two buildings.
La Trobe’s Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said the project will greatly enhance the experience of students living on campus.
“Our exceptional new accommodation will enable more of our students to live on campus, close to where they are studying,” Dewar said.
Graham Burrows, Director at JCB Architects, said the company was thrilled to be part of such an exciting and creative project.
“The design of the new buildings is very much inspired by the extraordinary landscape in which they sit,” Burrows said.
“As the largest mass timber project in Victoria, the buildings will not only offer huge environmental benefits, but they will also provide calm and beautiful spaces in and around which both resident students and the wider La Trobe community can interact.”
Multiplex Regional Director Ross Snowball said this is an innovative and ambitious project which Multiplex is also pleased to be part of.
“We are particularly passionate about emerging design technologies which respond to environmental and sustainability needs, and we love working with universities – so this project perfectly marries the two and I’m really looking forward to seeing the outcome next year,” Snowball said.
Dewar said the accommodation development project would be a major boost to the local economy, with construction supporting more than 500 direct and indirect jobs.