Project Overview

The Monash Business School Alumni Centre, is a hybrid education space offering maximum flexibility to accommodate a variety of types and size of occupation. Acknowledging its location at the top end of Collins St, the design amplifies its uniquely elevated position, tucked between the lush Melbourne Club garden and the Collins Street vista created by the 70’s sawtooth facade.

The facility acts as a catalyst for engagement between the university and industry, a combination of workspaces for staff, students and professional development education. The project explores the definition of the ‘third space,’ intentionally bluring the boundary between work, living and learning.
Detailing and materials where selected to provide a timeless, crafted approach to the experience of the spaces. They are presented in a manner more typical of a high-end residential setting – making the space comfortable and welcoming and to encourage extended dwelling beyond formal scheduled events.

Project Commissioner

Monash University

Project Creator

BKK Architects

Project Brief

The Monash Business School Alumni Centre, is a variable hybrid education space that offers maximum flexibility to accommodate a variety of types and size of occupation. The project brief called for a high quality space, which would become a hub for the Business School faculty and alumni within Melbourne’s CBD. The facility would act as a catalyst for engagement between the university and industry, a workspace for staff and students as well as spaces for professional development education. The project explores the definition of the ‘third space,’ as it intentionally blurs the boundary between work, living and learning.

The Business School Alumni Centre allows for variable and changing spaces which can perform as workspace, bar, lounge, educational, seminar and meeting spaces and facilitate multiple and changing pedagogies. The broad variety of functional requirements and hybrid nature of the spaces mean that all elements are hard-working in order to perform multiple functions.

The Alumni Centre allowed an opportunity to explore and re-evaluate what is an educational space; as a facility for engagement between industry and university, all areas were considered as opportunities for informal learning and knowledge sharing.

A key driving factor of the design was to acknowledge its location at the top end of Collins St, an important place for Melbourne. The design amplifies its uniquely elevated position, tucked between the lush Melbourne Club garden and the Collins Street vista created by the 70’s sawtooth facade.

Project Innovation/Need

The Monash Business School Alumni Centre reimagines how we approach the design of educational spaces. The project brief called for maximum flexibility, and would require the space to evolve to suit a variety of uses and adapt to future undefined requirements. BKK approached the spatial design with the intent that all spaces should offer an opportunity for education through formal or informal learning. By creating comfortable and adaptable zones that encourage extended dwelling beyond formal educational events, this would foster opportunities for knowledge sharing between those occupying the space, and promote engagement between Business School alumni and the University.

Design Challenge

The functional brief for the space was broad and would necessarily be further defined and evolve through the occupation of the space. This required the design to be able to adapt to future unknown uses. The design of the Monash Business School Alumni Centre explores the concept of the ‘Third Space;’ which is a space that occupies the gap between work and home – a space that is considered often missing from modern society. BKK believe this pedagogy of space is crucial for promoting opportunities to create a sense of community and wellbeing.

The design approach was deliberately not a typical educational or commercial setting, as the facility needed to be comfortable and welcoming, to provide a desirable space that would foster interaction between the university and industry. Detailing and materials where selected to provide a timeless and crafted approach, and are presented in a manner more typical of a high-end residential setting – to make the space comfortable and welcoming and to encourage extended dwelling beyond formal scheduled events.

Sustainability

High turn over of commercial interior spaces was a key concern when considering the design of this space. By designing a highly flexible and adaptable space, with durable and high quality finishes, the intention is that the fit-out will be able to adjust to future long-term requirements of the space, and to avoid unnecessary modifications to adjust to the changing needs of the space.

Other sustainable initiatives included using LED lighting through, low VOC paints, FSC certified timber and locally made and/or manufactured materials where possible. Utilising light sensors and automated settings helps reduce unnecessary use of resources and energy efficient appliances and water saving fixtures were installed.