As Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC is a vital and much-loved public institution.
It is integral to the social, cultural, and political life of the city, state, and nation.
Occupying a key Southbank site in Melbourne, the ABC building forms part of a dynamic cultural, arts, and education precinct which has reshaped this strategic inner-city area and become a focus for an increasing program of events and public activities.
ABC Melbourne is surrounded by Victorian College of the Arts, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Australian Ballet, the National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The design of the new building reflected the broadcaster’s intention to consolidate all Melbourne operations under one roof by re-purposing their existing Southbank building to create a unified, integrated, and collaborative professional environment in a functionally efficient and contemporary setting.
The design enabled increased opportunity for knowledge sharing and inter-divisional collaboration.
It positioned the ABC to better respond to an ever-changing media landscape from a workplace offering a dynamic, integrated, and visually-transparent environment.
Cox Architecture’s scheme also promoted interaction across program teams and invited greater public interest and participation in programs and special events.
Generous floor plates and regular vertical connections support exceptional workplace integration, a campus style workplace, and a ground floor that has been developed as an integrated extension of the wider urban context.
Sustainability and energy efficiency measures deployed within the project include water conservation, passive solar shading, high efficiency glazing, room occupancy sensors, and a comprehensive digital building management system.
Roof gardens, verandahs, and winter gardens ensure optimal levels of fresh air and light.
Project Details
Project size – 32,000 m2
Project budget – $176,000,000
Completion date – 2017
Project Team
Architecture
Cox Architecture
COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.
Key to their ethos is supporting the public life of our cities. Cox does this by ensuring each project makes positive contributions to its public realm – giving more than it takes.
Photography
John Gollings
John has been the photographer of choice, the go-to guy for many Australian architects.
He is renowned for his ability to almost always compose the best shot, the one defining image that makes a building memorable, etches it into the psyche.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Cox Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 John Gollings. All Rights Reserved.
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