FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date 29/05/09

HEADLINE: Six finalists short-listed in international competition for new landmark building

The University of Melbourne has selected six finalists to compete for the commission to design a new landmark building for the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP). The finalists were chosen from 133 submissions from top design firms and leading architects in 15 countries.

The six finalists will each receive $50,000 upon submission in August of their stage 2 competition entry for the $110 million project.

The winner, to be announced on 30 September this year, will design a vibrant educational environment that will inspire architecture, building and planning students, researchers and academics.

The two-stage competition announced on 27 March 2009 is endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects.

The jurors have been highly-impressed by the outstanding calibre and substantial number of responses.

The jury is:

• Distinguished Australian architect Peter Elliott, Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University;
• Acclaimed French architect Odile Decq;
• Professor Glyn Davis, Vice Chancellor, the University of Melbourne;
• Professor Tom Kvan, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, the University of Melbourne.

Ms Decq joined the jury after the withdrawal of the eminent Spanish architect, Ms Carme Pinos, who found that the challenges of communication across distance conflicted with her other extensive professional commitments.

Professor Tom Kvan, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, said: “The Faculty’s architecture competition is an exemplary process to establish a benchmark for environmental design. Most importantly, the new building will offer rich learning opportunities for all our students, including graduate students in our Melbourne School of Design.”

The six short-listed finalists are:

• Denton Corker Marshall Pty Ltd
• Diller Scofidio + Renfro
• John Wardle Architects & Office dA
• KoningEizenberg with William J Mitchell and Gehry Technologies
• McBride Charles Ryan
• Sauerbruch Hutton with NH Architecture

Further information on the architectural design competition is on the Faculty’s website.

To arrange interviews with Professor Tom Kvan, contact:

Phone: 03 8344 5499
Mobile: 0427 383 474
Email: abp-dean@unimelb.edu.au