Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Building, Architect, Project, Design

Swinburne University of Technology Melbourne Building

Advanced Manufacturing Centre Development – design by Wilkinson Eyre and Sinclair Knight Merz

25 Nov 2010

Advanced Manufacturing Centre Melbourne

Wilkinson Eyre and Sinclair Knight Merz commissioned to design new Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Melbourne

Wilkinson Eyre Architects (London, UK) and Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) Architects & Engineers (Melbourne, AUS) have been appointed to design a new building for Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

image from architects

The new building, located on the University’s Hawthorn Campus will be a centre of excellence in manufacturing innovation and collaborative learning that embraces state-of-the-art design, reflecting Swinburne University of Technology’s reputation as a leading research institute with strong technology and business connections.

The bold design, which will be a landmark for the University, comprises a six storey block floating above a retained Victorian façade at street level. Sculpted vertical fins, inspired by engine turbine blades, are modelled to achieve optimum solar shading while achieving transparency and an ethereal three-dimensional shape to the outer skin of the building.

Stafford Critchlow, Director of Wilkinson Eyre, said “We’re very excited to have the opportunity to design a higher education building in Australia, and we look forward to working with Sinclair Knight Mertz to bring our experience on university projects in the UK to a new context.”

Paul Mulgrew, Senior Principal of SKM, indicated “Sinclair Knight Merz is thrilled Swinburne University has appointed the exciting collaboration of SKM and Wilkinson Eyre. We believe that this will result in an outstanding outcome for the University”.

Wilkinson Eyre and Sinclair Knight Merz have a strong track record in education projects internationally and in Australia with their achievements recognised by a number of prestigious awards such as the UK Civic Trust award, the Victorian CEFPI award and RAIA awards for institutional work.

SKM has completed work for leading tertiary institutions including Deakin University and Victoria University, and is currently in the process of delivering a new $101M facility for the Defence Force School of Signals. Twice winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize, Wilkinson Eyre Architects has recently completed the Universityof Oxford’s new Earth Sciences building and the University of Cambridge’s Hauser Forum, and is currently delivering the $100m Forum project for the University of Exeter.

Sinclair Knight Merz and Wilkinson Eyre have also recently collaborated on major sports and infrastructure projects in Australia and the UK.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects is one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, with a portfolio of national and international award-winning projects. Its designs are widely recognised and have received extensive media, public and professional acclaim and numerous awards including, uniquely, the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in two consecutive years, for the Magna Project in 2001 and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in 2002.

Current projects include the spectacular Guangzhou International Finance Centre in China, two of the world’s biggest glasshouses in Singapore for the Gardens by the Bay project, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, a Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Oxford, the remodelling of gallery space and the creation of a new learning centre at the Museum of London, and a new building for the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Oxford.

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) is a leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm. Its purpose is to deliver a positive and enduring impact on the world. SKM has offices across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia.

The architectural firm is one of Australia’s leading integrated building design practices combining architectural and building engineering and sciences into a seamless practice. As one of the most experienced education design practices in Victoria, Australia it has an extensive portfolio of schools from Primary level to Secondary, Technical and University. SKM also brings an extensive skills set in building engineering which supports many architectural practices in Australia and around the world.

Swinburne University of Technology is a multi-campus Tertiary academic institute which has a strong reputation in Australia and overseas as a provider of career orientated education and as a university with a commitment to research. The University maintains a strong technology base and important links with industry, complemented by a number of innovative specialist research centres which attract a great deal of international and industry interest.

In Melbourne, the Hawthorn campus is undergoing a program of redevelopment, incorporating both refurbishment and new construction projects.

The University seeks to build a multi level building. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre Development (AMC) will provide the University with the opportunity to integrate specialist research space in collaboration with Industry Partners, provide general teaching spaces and shared communal areas. www.swinburne.edu.au

Swinburne University of Technology Building Melbourne images / information from the architects

Wilkinson Eyre

Location: 401 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia