RMIT University is building Business a new home

The ‘RMIT city’ within a city is set to grow with the construction of the future Swanston Academic Building. To be located next to the Oxford Scholar Hotel and flanked by Swanston, A’Beckett and Stewart Streets, the Swanston Academic Building is RMIT’s largest construction project to date.

I'm thrilled with the design: innovative teaching and learning spaces and exceptional environment compliance. The distinctive facade will have an incredible impact on the northern end of Melbourne's CBD. This iconic new building will be a huge drawcard for students and staff now and into the future.

Professor Ian Palmer, Pro Vice-Chancellor Business and Vice President

The $200+ million development is the largest investment in academic facilities ever undertaken by the University. It will enhance RMIT’s well-established reputation for commissioning innovative architecture, providing an exciting addition to Melbourne’s cityscape.

Updates…

Latest News

	Anywhere, anytime: a new approach to student computing Student computing will launch into a new era at RMIT University in July, when College of Business students move into their new home at the Swanston Academic Building (SAB). 07/05/2012
	RMIT Quarter grows The Swanston Academic Building is the biggest project RMIT University has undertaken - one that will expand the RMIT Quarter of Melbourne. 31/10/2011
	Students get concrete experience Two RMIT University students are using their classroom studies to contribute to the construction of the Swanston Academic Building. 29/08/2011
	RMIT soars above the city A full page story about the new Swanston Academic Building appeared in The Age, commercial property section on Wednesday 24 November. 30/11/2010
	Greening the knowledge city RMIT University has retrofitted four buildings as part of the City of Melbourne's 1200 Buildings Program aimed at reducing energy and water use and carbon emissions. 19/11/2010

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.

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”.

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.

Lyons has been commissioned to design and project manage the $200+ 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.

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.

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