University of Melbourne Arts West | ARM Architecture

Architecture for education
The new building is specifically designed for the contemporary pedagogical philosophies of the Faculty of Arts. Inside and out, it celebrates objects from the University’s cultural collections, which are studied and displayed in multiple courses.

Campus versus online
In the digital age, Arts West’s facilities keep students working on campus instead of just online. This way, they collaborate, present, discuss, debate and learn from chance encounters. The circulation spaces are filled with enticing and comfortable places for students to study together or individually, charge their devices, and learn efficiently outside contact hours. These in-between places are serendipitous pathways for chance encounters with academic staff and fellow students. Conversation is encouraged: there are zones for great minds to collide and quiet spaces. The building is also a University drawcard: students from around Australia and the Asia-Pacific region will compete to study there.

What’s on the façade?
There are five images of objects from the University’s collections. ARM developed a
highly innovative way of using parametric 3D software to generate them. Basically,
we created a virtual façade and virtual images of the objects then pressed them
together. And that was just the first step. 

Arts West is a sustainable building. It is 5-Star Green Star accredited. It delivers 100% fresh air, which avoids recirculating potential pollutants and minimises the risk of sick building syndrome. The façade fins provide passive solar control. On-demand and active response sensors ensure energy is not wasted. Rainwater is collected and stored in two 20,000 litre underground tanks for toilets and irrigation. There are two green roofs.

The Faculty of Arts didn’t want classroomy-looking classrooms, or bare corridors. So we created rich interiors that explore a multitude of themes, stories, people, places and times.