Construction begins on 24-hour student hub at Swinburne University

Construction has begun on a new 24-hour student hub at Swinburne University of Technology's Hawthorn campus in Melbourne's east.

Designed by Kosloff Architecture, the "Latelab" will refurbish an existing building at 27 John Street to create new secure-access study spaces, a kitchen and a rooftop terrace.

"As an adaptive re-use project, we will be working with existing materials to reduce negative impacts on the environment and promote the health and comfort of our students in a way that improves building performance and amenity," said Nancy Collins, chief operations officer at Swinburne.

The project has been co-designed with input from students, conducted through workshops, surveys, polls and on-site pop-ups. The students identified light, sound and layout as their top priorities for the project.

"The prominence of the new development is a physical representation of the central role that the student voice will play in the future of university decision making at Swinburne," said Laura-Anne Bull, deputy vice-chancellor, education, experience and employability.

The Latelab is part of the university's Next Gen Campus transformation project, which also includes a new campus heart to be designed by Architectus, and the newly completed Indigenous Learning Circles designed by Greenaway Architects.

Across the campus transformation projects, almost half the student cohort, 9,000 students, participated in the co-design process.

The Latelab is expected to be complete in time for the first semester of 2025.