Wilam Hall Student Accommodation

Wilam Hall is a student residential college originally spread across four disparate buildings. Three of the original buildings have heritage overlays with the fourth being an unsympathetic 1970s addition. fjcstudio was appointed by the University of Melbourne to refurbish a series of high profile State Heritage listed buildings in inner Melbourne. The College’s brief was to improve the overall amenity and image of the College by enhancing connectivity between the four buildings and adding much needed student lounges, conference facilities, additional residential rooms, gymnasium and staff facilities. The existing buildings also had to be sensitively refurbished to meet current fire and access codes. fjcstudio worked closely with Lovell Chen Heritage Consultants throughout the duration of the project to ensure the heritage fabric was maintained, while allowing for a contemporary addition to tie all existing college buildings together physically and symbolically. The fjcstudio proposal links the four buildings by inserting a new glass atrium structure, sensitively set back from the highly significant Drummond Street facades. This ensures the streetscape is appropriately resolved at both an urban and architectural scale. The glass and louvred structure sits atop of a labyrinth that naturally cools the space and helps meet the College’s high sustainable objectives.

The carefully crafted glass box responds to its external environmental conditions with a series of mechanically operated louvres that open and shut according to heat loads. Night purging and cross ventilation ensure that comfortable conditions are maintained throughout the year. Further opportunities to incorporate ESD initiatives have been explored with a total review of the four buildings’ existing services. Issues such as DDA compliance and code requirements including the addition of sprinklers had to be addressed in this complex design brief. An additional residential floor was also constructed atop the 1970s addition, increasing the college’s number of rooms, as well as providing an outdoor rooftop space for staff and student recreational use. The creation of student lounges on each floor and the reorganisation of circulation patterns through the new atrium space have greatly enhanced the sense of belonging for both residents and staff. The new common space has been designed around similar principles of a learning common and is focused on flexible student-orientated learning spaces. The College now has the highest level of amenity and sustainability while maintaining its unique culture and built environment.

Read more in Insights: The University of Melbourne approved changing the name of Medley Hall to Wilam Hall..