Parkville’s Central Education Building
Strengthening educational excellence
A new Central Education Building is planned to strengthen the University's commitment to educational excellence, as outlined in Strategy 2030: Resilience. This critical infrastructure will enable contemporary teaching and learning practices designed to prepare students to thrive in an increasingly complex world – envisioned in our Advancing Students and Education Strategy.
A shared hub for teaching, learning and connection
The Central Education Building will reflect the evolving ways in which students learn and educators teach.
The spaces where students learn have a profound impact on their university experience. Buildings are a critical enabler of how teaching and learning is delivered, and how engaged students feel during their studies.
The Central Education Building will respond to student feedback highlighting the need for a better sense of belonging during their studies by increasing access to spaces for learning and connection.
The Central Education Building will also play a significant role in alleviating timetabling pressures felt strongly across the Parkville campus, by providing more flexible teaching spaces that can be adapted for a variety of class styles.
Key benefits
Designed for use across all faculties, the new Central Education Building will feature:
- A welcoming front door to the University, creating a vibrant arrival experience and a central hub for teaching, learning and campus life.
- Interactive, technology-enabled teaching spaces to facilitate contemporary learning practices, including for large undergraduate lectures.
- Reduced travel times and eased scheduling pressure through flexible teaching spaces designed to accommodate a wide variety of class styles in one central location.
- Honoured Indigenous and institutional histories embedded into the project.
- Dedicated study and social spaces adjacent to teaching areas, connecting students and creating a stronger sense of belonging.
Consultation and engagement
The Central Education Building has been informed by a comprehensive needs analysis, undertaken in partnership with faculties and aligned with the University's master planning initiatives.
We are now in the very early stages of design, and will work with students, staff and the broader community to ensure that the Central Education Building responds to a range of needs.
A wide range of user groups will be consulted throughout the design process, including student representatives, academic staff from all faculties, sustainability advisors, campus operations teams, and the surrounding community.
These groups will be involved in developing detailed briefing requirements and providing feedback on design proposals. In addition, internal and external stakeholders will be engaged at key stages, including staff who may be affected by construction activity, to ensure impacts are well understood and managed.
Contact us
Please direct any questions to master-plan@unimelb.edu.au. This inbox is closely monitored to ensure timely responses.