Monash University refreshes its 20-year Campus Master Plans
Universities across Australia are seeing a rapid increase in student enrolments, with Australia maintaining 18 ‘top-10 departments’ year-on-year in the QS World University Rankings. The current number of international student enrolments alone has been forecast to grow from 650,000 to 940,000 by 2025, with a collective total of over 1.5 million domestic and international students nationwide this year. This prolific growth has encouraged universities such as Monash to put an infrastructure plan in place to cope with future demand.
The Monash University Master Plan has been commissioned to prevent a range of disjointed projects taking place, and instead provide a sense of order and cohesion, while a streamlined build schedule aims to mitigate disruption to students and faculty.
Jocelyn Chiew was appointed the position of Manager of Campus Design, Quality and Planning at Monash in 2012 and has been in charge of devising the masterplan and design of the campuses.
“[Monash’s] main campus at Clayton was infected with a particularly bad case of “carpark-itis,” a legacy brought about by its outer-suburban location and lack of public transport connections. Its other major campus, at Caulfield, while better connected to public transport, was a hodgepodge of streets and disconnected buildings that had been either acquired or developed with little attention given to the spaces in between.”
- Jocelyn Chiew via Landscape Australia
Construction is now underway at Clayton, Caulfield, Parkville and Peninsula Campuses, with a future goal to provide a light rail service to link the outer suburban campuses.
A partnership with ClimateWorks Australia will also see Monash attain net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The Monash Net Zero Initiative consists of 5 key pillars:
1. Energy Efficiency
2. Campus Electrification
3. Addressing residual emissions through offsetting
4. Deployment of on-site and off-site renewable energy
5. Sustainable microgrid
Check out what’s been happening at all four Monash campuses since Urban's previous Masterplan update last year.
Clayton Campus
VISION:
“In 2030, Clayton campus will be connected and central to the Monash National Employment and Innovation Cluster, a dynamic world leading hub of enterprise, research and innovation.
Clayton campus will be a showcase campus: a leader in education and research, distinguished by world-class environmentally sustainable infrastructure, design and landscapes.
The campus’ success will be built on vibrant learning and research neighbourhoods with distinct identities, integrated with iconic campus landscapes and linked to surrounding communities.”
THE DETAILS:
- Bush Projects and Kennedy Nolan on board to design a new Maths Learning Centre
- New Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building by DCM
- The construction of Monash University’s largest solar array, situated above the campus carpark with a capacity of 740 kilowatts peak (enough to power 430 houses per year)
- Peter Elliott’s 130-seat Sound Gallery and 200-seat Jazz Club and Café is nearing completion at Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts
- New tram route connecting Clayton campus to Chadstone
Caulfield Campus
VISION
“In 2030, Caulfield campus will be a well-connected, multi-disciplinary hub of excellence and innovation.
The campus will connect students, educators and the wider community to generate knowledge, inspiration, and collaboration in all aspects of learning, teaching and research.
The Campus Green, as part of a network of high quality public spaces, will promote a collegiate environment that welcomes visitors into the campus. Built form will be integrated to that context, resulting in a vibrant, compelling and highly accessible campus experience.”
THE DETAILS:
- Construction of a lecture theatre and the rebuild of Mamaduke Cafe (now Sable Drop)
- Caulfield Library designed by John Wardle Architects was awarded best in academic libraries category at the 2019 Australian Library Design Awards. The judges described the refurbishment as, “visually and physically connected with the campus... a light, safe and secure focal point for campus users, day and night.”
Parkville Campus
VISION
“Monash Parkville will be a beacon for academic excellence and pioneering research – unique to, and integrated with, the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and its parkland context.
Campus environments will embody and foster world-leading innovation, collaboration and partnership, in pharmacy and pharmaceutical science.”
THE DETAILS:
- An impressive transformation of a disused space has created an inviting and revitalised environment
- The refurbishment of the Lecturer Theatre Block tutorial rooms
Peninsula Campus
VISION
“Peninsula campus will evolve as a vibrant ‘hillside’ university town, defined by the unique relationship between its compelling native landscape and topography, and its world-leading, next generation learning environments.
Monash Peninsula will continue to be an industry leader in education and research, with a focus on Allied Health. The campus will build strong partnerships with the Hospital precinct and positive connections with the wider Frankston community.
Easily accessed by public transport, the campus will support a diverse student population, day and night, and become a unique educational and cultural destination for the surrounding regions and the greater Monash family of campuses. Urban resilience and adaptability are core principles of the Masterplan, demonstrating the University’s commitment to sustainability and net zero emissions.”
THE DETAILS:
- Upper Deck Cafe and Lounge by Sibling Architecture
- Refurbishment of the Nursing and Midwifery School
- Highly sustainable student accommodation has been created using cross-laminated timber
Stay tuned for more Monash University updates throughout 2019.