Construction underway on new $425m Melbourne innovation precinct
Construction is now underway on a $425 million mixed-use innovation precinct on the site of the former Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. The project, named Melbourne Connect, was developed by the University of Melbourne together with a Lendlease-led consortium.
Melbourne Connect is set to become home to Science Gallery Melbourne and the development will include student accommodation, co-working and commercial offices as well as a fabrication laboratory, retail, public spaces and childcare.
The mixed-use development will have a gross floor area of up to 74,000-SQM which will include a 3,260-SQM “Superfloor” at mezzanine level that will connect the five buildings that make up Melbourne Connect.
“Melbourne Connect brings together university led research, industry and elite thinking in a purpose-built innovation precinct, and demonstrates how the combined expertise of industry and academia can be harnessed to achieve great outcomes,” Lendlease Managing Director or Urban Regeneration John Burton said.
Artist impression of the project at street level (source: Melbourne Connect)
The old Royal Women’s Hospital is going to be redeveloped into a contemporary, light and open precinct that will honour the site’s history and heritage.
Melbourne Connect was designed by Woods Bagot, and principal and project architecture lead Hazel Porter said that the development will utilise cross-laminated timber (CLT) to show the project’s aspirational and future-focussed nature.
“CLT stands out for its sustainability, versatility, strength and aesthetic.
“Long championed by Lendlease, its benefits translate to safer working environments, improved quality and faster construction time on site due to prefabrication,” Ms Porter said.
This project is expected to create up to 3,000 direct and over 5,000 indirect jobs.
Melbourne Connect is anticipated to open in late 2020.
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Source: The Urban Developer; Property Observer; Spotless; Woods Bagot
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