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UoM STUDENT PRECINCT UDF

Urban Design Framework

12/12/2016

INTRODUCTION

A LEADING UNIVERSITY

The University of Melbourne (UoM) is a leading international

university with a tradition of excellence in teaching and

research. It remains at the forefront of higher education in the

Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Located near the northern edge of the Melbourne city centre,

the Parkville campus is recognised as the hub of Australia’s

premier knowledge precinct, comprising eight major hospitals,

many leading research institutes and a wide range of

knowledge-based industries.

To maintain its position as one of the top 50 universities in

the world, UoM is embracing a period of major change to plan

and design the campus of the future; It will need to meet

the changing expectations and needs of students and staff,

engage with its peers and alumni, fellow researches, industry

partners and the broader community, and evolve with the

major transport and infrastructural changes associated with

the future Melbourne Metro Rail project.

A NEW STUDENT PRECINCT VISION

Historically, the Student Precinct has been embedded at the

centre of the Parkville campus, defined by the Union House

hub which is reaching the end of its practical life. UoM has

recognised the opportunity to create a vibrant new Student

Precinct at the corner site of Grattan and Swanston Streets,

which will integrate a network of new student focused and

student led facilities for the Parkville Campus.

The precinct will be used for activities delivered primarly,

although not exclusively, through UoM’s Academic Services

division (already located at Stop 1, 757 Swanston St), UoM

Student Union (UMSU), and the Graduate Student Association

(GSA). Most importantly, it will foster the needs and aspirations

of the individual student.

UOM STUDENT PRECINCT URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK (UDF)

The purpose of this Urban Design Framework is to provide a

high level conceptual framework that would form the basis

for further programmatic investigation and analyses on the

various student precinct buildings and open spaces. The UDF

will make an important contribution to understanding the

precinct and should be seen as an adaptable proposal in the

context of a greater campus master plan and vision.

The UDF is undertaken within the UoM OC21 framework - ‘Our

Campus in the 21st century; A framework for change’. This

framework is the University’s planning and communication tool

that supports partnerships, projects and initiatives to evolve

and excel. The UDF outcomes will be used to inform the future

planning and design requirements for the precinct.

AND P CES

Local andinternational

Sustainableand r

Physiand vir

Inside and outside

Social andcult

AOF INC SION

YNERGY

TION

YEXPERIENCES

TECHNOLOGYAND

TRADITION

OC21

TECHNOLOGY + TRADITION

» Balance technological innovation with heritage values

» Maintain campus character and ceremonial spirit

»

SYNERGY AND INNOVATION

» Encourage collaboration across precincts

» Support clusters of activity on campuses

» Develop industry and community links

QUALITY EXPERIENCES

» Support vibrant communities 24x7

» Enhance multi-sensory engagement

» Expand choices and lifestyle options

A CULTURE OF INCLUSION

» Design navigable and accessible environments

» Connect our city and satellite campuses

» Invite people to connect

SPACES AND PLACES

» Inspire outdoor landscapes and green spaces

» Encourage adaptation and re-use of older buildings

» Plan for healthy and safe environments

URBAN DESIGN THEMES AND OBJECTIVES

The Student Precinct UDF develops on key urban design

themes in alignment with the five major themes of the OC21

Prism - Technology & Tradition; Synergy & Innovation; Quality

Experience; A Culture of Inclusion; and Spaces & Places. The

key urban design themes for this UDF are:

AMENITY

ACCESSIBILITY

INTERFACES

BUILT FORM & HERITAGE

LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT

LAND USE & FUNCTION

STUDENT PRECINCT OVERVIEW

An overview of Stage 01 Existing Conditions & Capacity is

provided at the beginning of this document. It highlights the

key challenges and opportunities identified at this stage in

order to transition into the Stage 02 UDF proposal.

STAGE 02 - URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK

In view of constructing a high level conceptual framework and

investigating opportunities for the precinct, the UDF develops

five significant initiatives to realise the objectives of the key

urban design themes. These opportunities are explored in

further detail and include the following actions:

INITIATIVE 01: UNIFYING THE GROUND PLANE

INITIATIVE 02: ACTIVATING EDGES & BOUNDARIES

INITIATIVE 03: A NEW STUDENT PRECINCT IDENTITY

INITIATIVE 04: A GREEN PRECINCT

INITIATIVE 05: CREATING A STUDENT VILLAGE

With the support of the consultant team, the proposed

interventions have involved ongoing collaboration and advice

from specialist disciplines including heritage, structural,

geotechnical, accessibility (DDA), traffic & transport, wind

assessment, and building code/regulatory advice.

WHERE TO FROM HERE

This Urban Design Framework provides a starting point for

the future decision making and development of the Student

Precinct. The successful implementation of the vision will

require the coordination and commitment of all stakeholders.

Following the completion and general acceptance of the UDF,

the next steps would include detailed feasibility studies and

concept designs for the following proposals:

Built form (UoM):

• New Arts and Cultural Building

• New Swanston St Building

• New Atrium Link

• ERC Refurbishment, Rooftop Addition and Entry Canopy

• Doug Mcdonell Refurbishment

• Alice Hoy Refurbishment

• Frank Tate Refurbishment

• 1888 Refurbishment

• John Smyth Refurbishment

• 757 Open Stage Facade Treatment

Landscape (UoM):

• Gate 8 entry - New ‘Welcome Mat’ & landscape treatment

• 1888 South Lawn Walkway - New landscape treatment

• 1888 North-West Courtyard

• 1888 North-East Courtyard

• Alice Hoy Courtyard

• John Smyth Forecourt

• Frank Tate Archipelago

UOM OC21 PRISM

STUDENT PRECINCT OVERVIEW URBAN CONTEXT

Proposed Student Precinct: Grattan St View West

Proposed Student Precinct: Swanston St View North

Existing Union House

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UoM Parkville Campus

Key vehicular/transport links

Future Melbourne Metro rail link -

Parkville station entry points

New Student Precinct

Existing Student Precinct (Union House)

Carlton Connect Initiative

RMIT University campus and RMIT Design Hub

State Library of Victoria

M

Proposed City North Urban Renewal Area:

City of Melbourne Transport Strategy 2012-2030

MM M

Historically, the UoM Student Precinct has been embedded

at the centre of the Parkville campus at Union House. This

significant institution has accommodated UMSU and provided

a social, cultural and learning hub and political voice for

generations of students since the mid 20th century.

Union House is reaching the end of its practical life. Its

embedded location has also created a somewhat inward focus

for the university, denying it proximity to tansport links and

engagement with the community and city beyond campus.

UoM has recognised an important opportunity to relocate the

Student Precinct to the corner of Grattan & Swanston Streets.

This geographical shift will re-focus UoM’s centre of gravity

to the campus edge, creating a new gateway between the

university and city for UMSU, GSA and student led facilities,

and an enhanced public interface. By establishing the social,

cultural and intellectual student heart on the doorstep of

UoM, the new Student Precinct will align with other major

institutions along the Swanston St spine, and strengthen

connections with the UoM Southbank Campus (Victorian

College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music).

The new Student Precinct is located within the City North Urban

Renewal Area (City of Melbourne) and affords an important

relationship with Grattan St which will see significant future

changes including the proposed Metro Rail link and Parkville

station entries. It will also enable new kinds of cross-

fertilisation & collaboration with Carlton Connect Initiative on

Swanston St, allowing dynamic exchange between UoM and

both its local and global research and industry partners.

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PRECINCT DEFINITION 8



12/12/2016

Monash Rd & Porters Lane corner - Alice Hoy west end

WU Campus, Vienna

Swanston St - 757 (Open Stage corner) & John Smyth

Gate 8 - Grattan St

Swanston St - Gate 6 entry

1888 south garden

Porters Lane - Building 138 & ERC Alice Hoy north frontage

The precinct external frontage is defined by a number of entry

points and thoroughares, and a variety of built form and open

spaces with key constraints as follows:

6

2

5 7

4

1

2

3

8

9

31

5 64

8 97


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

ERC south garden

Gate 4 - Monash Rd

Vehicular driveway at key entry point results in

limited pedestrian amenity and experience

ERC south garden lacks wayfinding and landscape

definition; Underutilised open space

Building 138 and ERC result in limited precinct

access and permeability from precinct west edge

Monash Rd & Porters Lane corner - Poor building

presentation and interface at Alice Hoy west end

Poor visibility and limited access (DDA) into Alice Hoy

Monash Rd defined as vehicular thoroughfare with

narrow footpaths results in poor pedestrian amenity

Building 757 and John Smyth inactive interfaces

result in poor connection with Swanston St

Gate 6 service vehicle and pedestrian conflicts;

Poor landscape definition and pedestrian amenity

Non-compliant walkway and access to 1888 (DDA)

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Alice Hoy courtyard interface

WU Campus, Vienna

Raised plaza steps between Frank Tate and ERC

ERC south entry

Raised plaza around Frank Tate

Raised plaza interface with Frank Tate

1888 north courtyard

Walkway between raised plaza and Alice Hoy courtyard

SMAC and ramp retaining wall interface

1888 and Lot 6 interface

10 11 12

13 14 15

16 17 18

10

13

11

17

16

12

1514

18

PRECINCT DEFINITIONSTUDENT PRECINCT OVERVIEW

The precinct internal landscape is characterised by a multi-

level ground plane and circulatory network as well as a number

of open spaces with key constraints as follows:

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

ERC split-level entry and ramp results in poor external

interface; Perimeter brick wall lacks permeability and

restricts ground plane activation

Large planting bed limits access and usability of

1888 north courtyard

Legibility of 1888 heritage north facade and internal

amenity compromised by Lot 6

Multi-level ground plane and steps limit landscape

accessibility

Multi-level interface results in poor building

accessibility

High retaining wall (ramp) and inactive building

interface results in poor open space with limited solar

access

Limited connection and activation between Alice Hoy

ground plane and courtyard

Frank Tate heritage facade obscurred by raised plaza

Raised plaza and water feature create barriers that

disconnect the ground plane and limit open space

usability

PRECINCT RELATIONSHIPS 10

SOUTH

LAWN

UNIVERSITY

SQUARE

LINCOLN

SQUARE

GRATTAN STREET

SWAN

STON

STR

EET

MONASH ROAD

PO

RTE

RS

LA

NE

CARLTON

CONNECT

MSE



12/12/2016

87

4

6 Grattan St - View west

Monash Rd - View west

Swanston St - View north


Campus Gates

Proposed location of new MM rail link:

Parkville station entry

The Student Precinct is bound by the major thoroughfares of

Grattan St, Swanston St and Monash Rd, and the Porters Lane

west edge which provides a pedestrian route through campus.

Grattan and Swanston Streets will see a significant change

in pedestrian movement dynamics over the next decade. The

campus is changing; How will the Student Precinct account for

these changes in movement and connectivity?

GRATTAN STREET

Grattan St is a major vehicular thoroughfare that divides north

and south campus, with limited pedestrian amenity. Currently

significant traffic volumes and parking is accommodated along

the street, making it less attractive as a public space. There

is a tremendous opportunity to re-imagine Grattan St as an

enhanced pedestrian thoroughfare that connects the entire

Parkville campus; Future projects such as the narrowing of the

street from 4 to 2 lanes, and the MM station will help realise

this vision. An opportunity exists for public space upgrades

along the Student Precinct edge, in conjunction with MCC.

SWANSTON STREET

Swanston St provides a key transport link between the UoM

Parkville and Southbank Campuses, with the CBD and other

institutions between. Challenges include difficulty in crossing

the street due to the tram superstop configuration; campus

gates do not align with crossings; pedestrian amenity is low;

and access into the precinct is poorly defined and narrow.

Integrating the precinct with MCC’s long term vision for a major

pedestrian, cyclist and tram route is a significant opportunity.

With tram patronage anticipated to reduce once the MM rail

is complete, this may have implications for reconsidering the

tram superstop to enable enhanced on-street pedestrian

amenity and movement, in conjunction with MCC. Connecting

more directly with Carlton Connect is an opportunity, which

has an important relationship with the Student Precinct.

MONASH ROAD

Monash Rd is defined as a vehicular route into campus along

the precinct north edge, that leads to South Lawn and central

campus. It has narrow footpaths and poor pedestrian amenity.

Reconfiguring Monash Rd into a pedestrianised shared zone

would greatly enhance the pedestrian experience into campus

and the Student Precinct north interface.

PORTERS LANE

The precinct west edge is poorly defined with limited

access. Improving the interface with adjacent buildings and

strengthening connections to South Lawn and central campus

will be vital for the legibility and permeability of the precinct.

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PRECINCT LEVELSSTUDENT PRECINCT OVERVIEW

A

B

The existing Student Precinct is characterised by a multi-level

ground plane and circulatory network that contains significant

barriers including a raised plaza, multiple steps and split level

building entrances that make precinct access and mobility

difficult.

There is a significant grade change across the site of 6m;

This creates awkward building interface issues and the need

for steps and ramps. The Raised Plaza acerbates the grade

change by artificially raising the levels even higher, requiring

significant steps and ramping. The original ground line

represents a more favorable condition for access, as gradients

are much less steep.

There is a significant opportunity to explore how the Raised

Plaza can be reconfigured to provide better access through

the site and usability of open space. Grade changes can be

exciting and dramatic and allow for interesting landscape

experiences. Grade changes also allow access to buildings at

different levels, which can assist in activating buildings.

Section A - East West Section Through Precinct

Section B - North South Section Through Precinct

+4.66 RAISED PLAZA

+4.66 RAISED PLAZADOUG MCDONELL

DOUG MCDONELL

ERC

+0.00 DATUM1888 BUILDINGMSE

GRATTAN

STREET

SWANSTON

STREET

+ 3.74

FRANK TATE

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OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT

December 23rd 10AM

March 23rd 10AM

June 23rd 10AM

December 23rd 1PM

March 23rd 1PM

June 23rd 1PM

December 23rd 4PM

March 23rd 4PM

June 23rd 4PM

SOLAR ACCESS

The existing precinct landscape is defined by a combination

of larger open spaces and smaller forecourts and courtyards

which vary in their access to sunlight. The level of sunlight

entering these spaces can have a significant effect in

enhancing or diminishing the quality and useability of these

spaces. The renewed precinct will need to carefully address

these issues in regards to existing and new built form, and

open space opportunities.

CHALLENGES

• How to provide external spaces throughout the precinct

that have access to sunlight across the day and year

• There are currently many buildings within the precinct

which cast shadows and limit solar access at different

times of the day and year

• The precinct is generally south facing, away from

the northern light, with taller buildings creating

overshadowing

OPPORTUNITIES

• Provide a range of external spaces that have solar access

throughout the day and year

• Ensure there are always some external spaces that are in

sun across the day and year

• Provide warm and comfortable micro-climates throughout

the precinct

• 1888 south lawn generally has sunlight throughout the

year, but is currently underutilized; An opportunity exists

to improve amenity and provide a greater diversity of

seating opportunities

• New built form (development envelopes) should be

arranged and manipulated to minimize overshadowing

• Solar access will play an important role in the renewed

precinct landscape and help inform the programming of

open space

Note: These sun-shade diagrams exlude the shade cast by

existing trees

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