Although DesignInc is currently working on a feasibility study for Monash University’s Building 13F – a project we initially designed in 1970 when the practice was known as Eggleston Macdonald Secomb (EMS) – it’s not the first time we’ve had the opportunity to rework one of our own projects for the university. Another one that immediately comes to mind is The Menzies Building (also designed as EMS), completed in 1963.
Like all new learning environment upgrades, this one, undertaken in 2011, was to bring the existing 11-storey building in line with prevailing pedagogies, which simply didn’t exist when it first opened. So the Melbourne studio created centralised meeting, collaboration and breakout spaces that offer students flexibility by supporting different modes of study. Transparency was also a consideration when reconfiguring the scheme and as a result, a new system of lifts and strategically placed open stairs were installed to ensure views across each level and out towards the surrounding campus.
Not only do these unobstructed sight lines facilitate a greater sense of community, but they better connect students and staff with nature. This emphasis on bringing the outside in was also prioritised in the refurbishment of the building’s foyer, which included the addition of a café. Indeed, the design finds its most compelling biophilic expression in the entry’s north-south wayfinding canopy that incorporates a series of nature-inspired graphics onto its surface. And pops of citrus green and yellow make the illuminated undulating structure stand out all the more against the otherwise neutral timber, steel and concrete interior, creating a striking campus gateway.
Interestingly, this canopy’s form pays homage to the original southern entry canopy that was removed in the 1970s to make way for an extension. While our commitment to biophilic design is strong, we also value the incorporation of old and new, which was seamlessly realised in order to deliver a further 40-year lifecycle for this building.
Redfern Station and PHIVE received accolades for their innovative, inclusive, and environmentally conscious designs at the 2024 Sustainability Awards and the World Green Building Council’s Sustainable Design and Performance Awards.
DesignInc Director Darryl Suttie participated in The Wellbeing of Architects [education + practice –] symposium, held in Melbourne 8-9 May 2024, which marked the conclusion of the comprehensive research project The Wellbeing of Architects: culture, identity + practice. He shares his insights in this article.
Internationally experienced architect and urban designer, Dr. Michael Kahn (pictured) is DesignInc’s newest Principal. DesignInc Sydney are proud to announce a series of promotions to start 2025—headlined by the appointment of Dr….
DesignInc has expanded into the Northern Territory, establishing a studio in Darwin. With expertise across sectors including defence, health, education, community, workplace, residential, transport, aviation, and urban design, DesignInc will now combine its national experience with established local knowledge, having completed numerous projects across the Northern Territory over the last decade.
