Robert Menzies Student Accommodation | Allen Jack+Cottier Architects

The new student accommodation building at Robert Menzies College (RMC) is a contemporary symbol of the college’s identity, on the expanding Macquarie University campus. It represents the brand, culture and function of RMC and reinforces the college’s interactive, supportive and social emphasis. Already, the amenities and contemporary appeal of the new facilities have contributed to record student intake when compared to neighbouring colleges. The building provides 104 new bedrooms, seminar rooms and common room areas for senior undergraduates, post-graduate and doctoral students; and communal outdoor recreation space and conference facilities for community use. It is divided into two wings, connected lightly by a glazed bridge element. The south wing addresses and contains the new active courtyard space, and expresses the identity of the college community in a vibrant and dynamic way. The north wing expresses a more practical and robust purpose, referencing the masonry elements of the existing accommodation buildings. Passive solar principles were adopted to conserve energy, including custom sunshading elements, cross ventilation to all common areas and corridors, insulated facades and thermal mass. Although no air-conditioning was provided to the accommodation rooms, the occupants have been completely comfortable, even in the extremes of summer.