RMIT University is building Business a new home

An early concept image of the Swanston Academic Building. Courtesy: Lyons Architects.

As part of RMIT University’s capital works program to upgrade and consolidate its teaching and research facilities, the Business portfolio is building and moving into new, custom-designed premises on Swanston Street, opposite the main City campus block.

The $180 million development is the largest investment in academic facilities ever undertaken by the University. The new building will wrap around the historic Oxford Scholar Hotel, fronting onto both Swanston and A’Beckett streets.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said the 37,000 square metre development would transform the northern end of Swanston Street.

“The new RMIT Business building will enhance RMIT’s well-established reputation for commissioning innovative architecture, providing an exciting addition to Melbourne’s cityscape,” Professor Gardner said.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business), Professor Gill Palmer, said “The new building will bring vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate students together at the heart of the City campus and provide an impressive setting for the strengthening of networks with corporate partners and clients. Industry will be a key partner in the design process.”

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A new era in learning and research

The world of learning and research as we know it will see significant change over the next two decades. RMIT Business’ new home must anticipate future practices and act as an effective catalyst to accelerate the uptake of new ideas and the adoption of new approaches to the learning and academic work experience. Increased emphasis will be placed upon learning through socialisation and cross fertilisation of disciplines.

The new building shall invite the bold to lead change and deliver competitive advantage to RMIT University through higher quality learning experiences and more holistic and collaborative approaches to innovation and research.

What role will technology play?

In a world of ubiquitous mobile technology every space is a learning place – within the university and the city at large. Every student, armed with an iPod, phone and laptop computer in a completely wireless environment, will colonise space in new ways. The university becomes more of a place of group learning through socialisation across the public spaces of the campus – lecture and breakout spaces, the cafes, parks, and the myriad of “spaces in between”.

An opportunity for innovative spaces

The experience of the new building will be one of being connected to people and activity through the use of space and volume. Each space, edge, pathway and surface will be activated and provide opportunities for engagement. Retail, recreational and social space shall be interspersed with formal learning to provide a focus around core activities. The activity of learning will be highly visible and on display, rather than closed, private and hidden. The space will encourage the creative and intellectual transfer of knowledge and lead users to interact in multiple settings with multiple information sources. It will provide an integrated experience of learning amongst students, staff and industry partners.

Above all the new building will be vibrant, engaging and all about connecting people. We invite you to be part of this exciting vision.

About Lyons Architects

Lyons has been commissioned to design and project manage the $180 million development. Lyons is an architectural and urban design practice based in Melbourne, Australia. The firm is committed to the craft of architecture and urban design as an intellectual construct within a local and global culture. Lyons proposes an architecture which is confident and self conscious about its cultural origins and which embodies the complexities of invention, ideas and identity.

• Visit the Lyons Architects website

Lyons has completed numerous large scale commissions for government public and private sector client groups. Its recent projects include major commercial buildings, university, education and training facilities, urban design projects and large scale government defence, health and research projects.

More information

Additional information about this, and other RMIT capital works projects can be found on the RMIT property services website.

• RMIT property Services – Capital works program

For more information or to provide suggestions, ideas or comments, or to be involved further please contact Deb Strut on 9925 1330 or email deborah.strutt@rmit.edu.au.