The VCA Elisabeth Murdoch Building was originally the Victorian Police Depot.
Built in the Georgian Revival style, the three story brick building is solid and well-proportioned, with heritage character throughout.
This informed Six Degrees Architects‘ design strategy to strip out inappropriate insertions from years past and return the building where possible, to its original configuration.
Aesthetically, the design strategy was to take a minimal approach, using finishes and feel inspired by the Glasgow School of Art by Charles Rennie Macintosh.
Japan Black floors, oiled timber screens and clean, minimal steel framed glazing all contribute to a quiet, restrained, and elegant feeling.
The building was functionally very closed in character; so the design aims to open the building up, incorporating flexible multimedia uses, with the parallel benefits of improved public and disabled access and improved learning outcomes.
Other new programs introduced by Six Degrees Architects were:
- fundraising offices
- multimedia gallery
- the student centre
The project included extensive environmental upgrades including:
- low energy lighting
- hydronic heating
- gas absorption sourced chilled water air-conditioning
- new insulation
Six Degrees Architects achieved these upgrades without compromising the heritage character of the interior spaces.
Project Details
Project size – 2,445 m2
Completion date – 2013
Building levels – 3
Project Team
Architecture
Six Degrees Architects
Established in 1992, Six Degrees is one of Australia’s leading architectural practices.
Practice areas include residential, master-planning and place making, aged care and community, office and workplace, hotels and hospitality, and education, delivering design solutions for both new and heritage places.
The Six Degrees Architects team for this project included:
Director – Peter Malatt, Simon O’Brien
Architect – Hilary Lawson
Documentation – Shol Nichols, Jos Tan, Giles Freeman
Interior Design – Robyn Ho
Consultant Team
Services – SPA Consulting Engineers
Building Surveyor – Philip Chun + Associates
Structural – George Apted + Associates
Heritage – Michael Taylor Architects
Photography – Jacob Walker
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Six Degrees Architects. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Jacob Walker. All Rights Reserved.
Other Education Projects
VCA Grant Street Theatre, Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus, LCI Melbourne
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