First purpose-built student housing complex in Newcastle CBD

Group GSA has won a design excellence competition for a student housing complex in Newcastle's West End.

The project will be the first purpose-built student accommodation building in the city centre.

The 560-bed, 21-storey building will rise from the existing heritage-listed Cambridge Hotel at 789 Hunter Street.

The design is conceived as a trio of slender towers above a brick-faced podium with a large atrium in the centre.

"Each tower has been designed with its own distinctive architectural expression, responding to Country, to urban context and to orientation," said Group GSA principal Alister Eden.

"In a nod to the site's much-loved music past, we've nicknamed the buildings as a 'band' of towers, and affectionately named them the 'singer,' the 'drummer' and the 'guitarist' - with the singer naturally being the loud one at the front," Eden continued.

The main ("singer") tower's facade is inspired by local history and discussions with Indigenous artist Warwick Keen.

"The facade's shading devices on the main tower make reference to the ancient tree carvings that were once prominent in the region and [that are] a recognized tradition of local Kamilaroi peoples," Eden said.

The central atrium will be densely planted, with a roof garden on top of the podium.

"Every room is naturally cross-ventilated, making it one of few student accommodation buildings in Australia to achieve this," Eden said.

"Students will have daily engagement with a green garden that's rising up through their building, providing health and wellness benefits as they set about their day."

The facade of the existing hotel will be incorporated into the podium of the proposed development, while the hotel bar's original Art Deco ceiling will be repurposed into a new restaurant on the site. The upper floors will be adapted into student rooms.

The proposal also includes a new plaza and amphitheatre on Denison street to act as an informal performance space, reflecting the history of live music on the site.