With its commitment to innovation, sustainability and community, the Glyn Davis Building inspires future generations of architects, planners and designers – setting a benchmark for educational facilities worldwide.
Join us in reflecting on what makes the building such an iconic structure a decade on from its 2014 opening – from its role as a living, breathing educational tool to the sense of community it has brought to the faculty.
Reflections on community
This building is important, because it has made a home for the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
Prof Julie Willis and Prof Philip Goad share what the Glyn Davis Building means to the people that call it home. Over a decade on from breaking ground as a major new construction in the centre of campus, they reflect on how it has solidified a sense of identity for the faculty. As a world leading example of the best in architectural design and sustainability, the building’s biggest strength is its capacity to bring students together to collaborate and learn.
Reflections on Design
The University provided us with a really fascinating brief, beyond the nuts and bolts
Stefan Mee shares how John Wardle Architects and NADAAA collaborated to create the Glyn Davis Building, an iconic structure that has solidified its status as a landmark in innovative and sustainable design. The internationally acclaimed architectural team was tasked with designing a building that met the Faculty’s four design pillars: make every discipline within it visible (literally); create an outstanding place to work and carry out research; provide world-class learning environments; and deliver on environmental performance.
I continue to be so impressed by the caliber of the students here at the faculty, and their ability and their enthusiasm
Ariani Anwar has called the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning home for over a decade. From experiencing the construction of the new building as a Master of Architecture student and embarking on a career with the architecture firm that designed it, to coming back and sharing her expertise as a studio lead. Ariani shares her thoughts on what makes the Glyn Davis Building so impactful to our students.
Reflections on construction
Being in the heart of the Parkville campus, the construction of the Glyn Davis Building offered us an opportunity to do something incredibly iconic.
The construction of the Glyn Davis Building was a huge undertaking, both in scale and technological ambition. Robert Crawford and Ian Steedman share what made this such an exciting and unique project. For example, did you know that the building itself was designed to be a teaching tool? From the underside of the stairs to a window into the plant room, elements of the building have purposefully been left exposed so students can understand how a structure like this actually comes together.
Reflections on surrounds
Our involvement as landscape architects was really being able to deliver on the idea of this as a living, learning building.
Associate Director of Oculus, Claire Martin, delves into the landscape architecture of the building. With the understanding that the building doesn’t end at the facade, Oculus aimed to stitch the Glyn Davis Building into the campus around it – complete with outdoor classrooms, amphitheaters and social spaces. Dr James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), discusses our ongoing commitment to sustainability and leading by example as a world-class educational facility in the built environment.
A Decade of Design Excellence
The architects, designers and teachers who made the Glyn Davis Building possible come together to reflect on the building’s creation, its legacy, and what it means ten years on.