Caulfield is Monash University’s second largest campus offering a diverse range of education opportunities from four faculties. In 2020 the university began works to dramatically improve connections between existing buildings and the adjacent public spaces for students, staff, and visitors. This adaptive reuse project incorporates an improved vertical transportation network, expanded all-gender amenities, and an improved entry experience for two existing buildings.
The additions act as a central circulation spine, creating connections between the collaborative teaching and learning spaces, the concourse, arcade, and adjacent Ian Potter Sculpture Court. This enhances the wayfinding, permeability, and quality of the public realm. An illuminated, glazed entry to the ground floor improves safety for students and increases natural light penetration to the ground level arcade space.
The new works significantly update the buildings to meet current standards and make way for the rest of the interiors to be refitted in the future.
Wayfinding is enhanced at the entrances and within the new spaces. An illuminated, glazed entry to the ground floor will improve safety for students and brighten up the previously shadowy arcade space at ground level. New landscaping ties into the existing leafy courtyard.
The lift core will be clad in a ribbed precast panel with a pattern of coloured tiles which reference’s Michael Kitson’s Ceramic mural, commissioned in 1974 for the south elevation of the existing building.