Episode 121: RMIT Bundoora West - Student Housing

In this episode of ArchiTel we visit the new student residential facility at RMIT‘s Bundoora West campus, known as Walert House, and operated by Unilodge.

Designed by Richard Middleton of Richard Middleton Architects, the facility was built on a tight timeline of only 14 months, and relied on off-site prefabrication by suppliers SBS Group and ARC. Tretford floor coverings were provide by Gibbon Group.

The facility provides accommodation in 280 rooms over three wings of the building, carefully located in an historically sensitive site that features an aboriginal heritage trail and 500 year old native redgum trees, providing further challenges to the design and construction process. Generous recreation and shared space is provided on each of 6 levels.

The building has been recognised in awards recently, including the AIA Victorian Chapter Awards. Receiving the Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, the facility is now regarded as an exemplar of modern vertical student accommodation.

Still photographs courtesy of Dianna Snape Photography

This weeks story is brought to you by:

Producer: Mia Zen

Director: Joel Loxton

Camera: Joel Loxton Editor: Andrew Cox