Melbourne Connect is a purpose-built innovation precinct created by the University of Melbourne (UoM) in partnership with Lendlease Development and delivered by Lendlease Building on the site of the former Royal Women’s Hospital. The 73,000sqm precinct features a series of interconnecting buildings arranged around a central landscaped public open space, known as ‘Womin Djerring’ (Come Together).

In addition to the University of Melbourne Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), Melbourne Connect includes a central public open space, the Science Gallery Melbourne along the length of Grattan Street, a mass-timber structured innovation hub building, a childcare facility, fabrication laboratories, retail, a post-graduate residential building (by others), and a mezzanine level ‘Superfloor’ for cross-site and cross-campus connections that ties all the buildings together.

With its bold vision, Melbourne Connect also presented a series of construction and engineering challenges, which were overcome by an innovative mindset and collaborative approach.

Photography by Trevor Mein

Dissections
Furniture: Carmody Trustable oak tables – Josh Carmody, Stellar Works Ren Lounge Chairs – Living Edge, Catifa meeting chairs – Stylecraft, Vitra Pivot Counter Stool – Unifor, Lionel Barstools and dining chairs – Jardan, Barbera Uccio stools – Daniel Barbera. Lighting: The Heart Node, Artist Robert Walton with Paul Lim and Bosco Shaw, Additive Lighting. Finishes: Operable Wall – Bluett & Swann, Upholstery: Kvadrat Foss – Kvadrat, Blinds – Alessi Group, Floortiles Paris – Signorino, Walltiles: Vitreous mosaic – Academy tiles, Ceilings: Knauf Perforated plasterboard – Knauf, Carpet tiles: Bike path – Interface. Fittings & Fixtures: Casework upholstery: Kvadrat Rime, Kvadrat Basel, Kvadrat Remix and Recheck, Kvadrat Galaxy 948 – Kvadrat, Case work Benchtops: Terra Nero Black – Arte Domus, Amenities: Fixtures – Caroma.