Case Studies
Monash University Northern Plaza
Design Feature
Type of Project
Landowner Strategy
State
Victoria
Location
Urban
The Northern Plaza is a vibrant all-day activities hub located at the heart of Monash University’s Clayton campus. Together with the Campus Centre, this public open space is integral to University life, creating a warm and welcoming space for students, staff and visitors to meet, study, work and relax.
Reinforcing a sense of place
The redevelopment of the Northern Plaza was undertaken in response to feedback canvassed from students and staff on how to enhance their campus experience. The community asked for interaction and innovation – for thriving and socially energised public spaces. As a result, the University’s Buildings and Property Division undertook an ambitious program of construction to transform the Northern Plaza into an exciting retail, entertainment and services destination that meets the physical, recreational and social needs of the community.
As a community facility, the Plaza offers flexibility via the co-location of activities. The development features outdoor seating for more than 300 people and a rejuvenated landscape including an expansive timber deck, barbeques, natural grassed areas and outdoor furniture.
As a community facility, the Plaza offers flexibility via the co-location of activities. The development features outdoor seating for more than 300 people and a rejuvenated landscape including an expansive timber deck, barbeques, natural grassed areas and outdoor furniture.
A large LED television (‘the Big Screen’) broadcasts news, movies and major events into the Northern Plaza. Internal retail spaces within the Campus Centre were also upgraded, and a central services hub with ATMs, bank branches and a post office was created. The Northern Plaza now brings together more than 30 retail experiences and nine new food outlets, with an alfresco dining area looking out over the Lemon Scented Lawn beneath a shaded glass canopy.
The Plaza hosts a number of healthy food retailers including Super Natural, Sushi Sushi and Wholefoods. Other retailers are working under the University’s new Healthy Monash nutrition program to expand their healthy choice offerings. An open central lawn provides endless opportunities for organised and informal outdoor activities, such as yoga, Pilates and other group fitness classes. Outdoor table tennis and basketball courts connect with the area through landscaped campus walks.
Monash Sport is just a short walk away, and offers outdoor tennis courts and fitness stations, as well as an indoor fitness centre, group fitness studios and aquatic centre. The new Monash Tan 3km jogging track links the recently opened Jock Marshall Reserve nature boardwalk with the campus’ grassed sporting ovals.
A sense of place is reinforced via acknowledgement of the area’s environmental identity. Monash’s Clayton campus is recognised as an Australian Significant Landscape, and offers a unique opportunity to explore native flora and fauna via a network of walking paths that crisscross the campus. There are also a number of feature gardens you can enjoy on campus, including the Aboriginal garden, a sub-tropical rainforest, the Rogan-En Japanese Garden and the Earth Sciences Garden which showcases more than 500 local rock specimens. By enriching the public realm, creating curated and well-defined spaces and activating the heart of the campus, this project follows the ambition of the Monash Masterplan. The Northern Plaza redevelopment has strengthened the connection between buildings and landscapes, and has enriched the campus experience for Monash’s growing community and regional network.
Monash Sport is just a short walk away, and offers outdoor tennis courts and fitness stations, as well as an indoor fitness centre, group fitness studios and aquatic centre. The new Monash Tan 3km jogging track links the recently opened Jock Marshall Reserve nature boardwalk with the campus’ grassed sporting ovals.
A sense of place is reinforced via acknowledgement of the area’s environmental identity. Monash’s Clayton campus is recognised as an Australian Significant Landscape, and offers a unique opportunity to explore native flora and fauna via a network of walking paths that crisscross the campus. There are also a number of feature gardens you can enjoy on campus, including the Aboriginal garden, a sub-tropical rainforest, the Rogan-En Japanese Garden and the Earth Sciences Garden which showcases more than 500 local rock specimens. By enriching the public realm, creating curated and well-defined spaces and activating the heart of the campus, this project follows the ambition of the Monash Masterplan. The Northern Plaza redevelopment has strengthened the connection between buildings and landscapes, and has enriched the campus experience for Monash’s growing community and regional network.
Project team
- Monash University’s Buildings and Property Division
Project Cost
Undisclosed
Health Value
- Provides a green, smoke-free, outdoor environment for students, staff and the wider community to study, work, collaborate, socialise and relax.
- Hosts events which bring together the University’s campus community to support physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. This includes activities such as Winterfest, Summerfest, RUOK Day, Open Day, Orientation Week and Monash Sports Week.
- Showcases sport, cultural and social activities, encouraging student and staff participation and inviting the wider neighbouring community onto campus. Activities include Pilates, yoga, tai-chi, social sports, martial arts and others.
- Provides access to healthy food options through on-campus vendors.
- Creates an open, inviting and engaging outdoor space, away from formal learning and teaching environments.
Economic value
- Encourages use of the campus on weekends and after hours, helping to activate the space and create a thriving all-day community atmosphere.
- Creates opportunities for local retailers to sell their products during regular market day events throughout the year.
- Provides an engaging and inviting indoor/outdoor space for on-campus vendors.
Environmental Value
- Creates opportunities to showcase and sell sustainable and ethically-sourced products through the Monash Urban Market.
- Promotes active transport through promotion of sustainable transport options such as the Monash Bike share program.
- Provides a green, architecturally-designed open space, with varied and flexible seating options.
- Encourages spill-out from indoor spaces into beautifully landscaped outdoor areas – improving the connection between buildings and the campus grounds.
- Highlights environmental programs and initiatives at key University events such as Open Day.
Social value
- Provides opportunities for students, staff and the wider community to gather in a beautiful, well-planned outdoor space.
- Establishes a central, ceremonial outdoor space for key University events and promotions to be held.
Use value
- People of all ages and interests use the Northern Plaza as a space to study, work, collaborate, relax and socialise.
- The space is used to promote, inform and educate students, staff and the wider community on University and community-wide issues, interests and events.
- Supports local vendors by encouraging use of cafes, retailers, and sports, entertainment and cultural venues - not only during busy University periods, but after hours and on weekends.
- The large LED television (‘the Big Screen’) provides a focal point for students and staff to enjoy a diverse range of programmed entertainment.
References
View a time-lapse video of the transformation of the Northern Plaza here.
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