Deakin University Burwood Hwy Building STEM & Media Studio
Project summary
Anne Thompson Eaton, as a Design Manager at Deakin University, led the $190 million Burwood Highway Frontage Building project. This transformative initiative comprised an eight-level tower and a five-level podium, serving as a gateway for the campus.
Anne’s technical expertise played a crucial role in developing the feasibility and design stage integrating the building’s massing and color scheme, combining concrete and aluminum finishes. The interior design prioritized modern academic workplaces, promoting collegiality and connectivity. With thoughtful consideration of the campus context, the project successfully created inviting north-facing courtyards and provided a landmark space for the Faculty of Health.
…what Anne did on this project
The Burwood Highway Frontage Building at Deakin University, with a combined project value of $190 million, was an ambitious and transformative initiative led by Anne Thompson Eaton during her tenure as a Design Manager. This landmark project was envisioned as a pivotal building for the campus, accommodating the University’s Faculty of Health along with several administrative and support areas while serving as an iconic gateway. Anne’s role was instrumental in shaping the technical aspects of the project and setting up a successful delivery process.
To achieve the project’s objectives, the building’s orientation and massing were carefully considered. The structure comprised an eight-level tower connected to a five-level podium building, strategically positioned between the two main entrances of Deakin University in Melbourne. The architectural intention focused on two key concepts: the spatial composition needed to fulfill the functional brief and the aspiration to create a captivating gateway for the campus.
One of the significant challenges was integrating a building with a gross floor area of approximately 17,000 sqm into the context of the existing campus and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The solution was to orient the building away from the southern edge and the highway, thus creating two inviting north-facing courtyards. These courtyards not only acted as social gathering spaces for the public and university community but also extended the lush landscape nature of the Burwood campus.
The building, juxtaposed against the finer, residential urban grain of Burwood, was broken into two clear forms: one taller in gold accentuating the campus entry and the other in contrasting silver defining the edge of the main road and engaging with the public realm.
The use of concrete played a pivotal role in the project, both as a finished surface for the interior and in the creation of flowing landscape forms for the public realm. To enhance the architectural contrast, aluminum louvres were applied to the majority of the building, delivering a sleek juxtaposition to the abundance of brutalist concrete.
The interior design concept was carefully crafted to offer a modern academic workplace that supported the Faculty of Health’s high-level research needs. The layout encouraged collegiality, offering task, social, and rest spaces that connected departments, students, and faculty within the building. Moreover, the provision of two external courtyards served to improve connectivity and activity, fostering a sense of community on campus.