The Australian and Western Australian governments have today welcomed Edith Cowan University's (ECU) announcement that a consortium of leading local, national and international architects will design the $695 million ECU City Campus.
Australian architectural firm Lyons, in partnership with Perth-based Silver Thomas Hanley and international architects Haworth Tompkins, have been announced as the successful design team for the ECU City Campus - the centrepiece of the Perth City Deal.
The appointment is one of the largest contracts to date to come from the $1.5 billion Perth City Deal, announced last year, which brings together all three levels of government to help secure the long-term prosperity and liveability of Perth by promoting a vibrant city centre.
The consortium has already begun to design the ECU City Campus, which will be Western Australia's first comprehensive university campus situated in the Perth CBD.
Lyons and Silver Thomas Hanley have an extensive background in collaborating on award-winning major university and research building projects.
Lyons is recognised for its designs at leading city-based universities including RMIT in Melbourne and the flagship STEM precinct at the University of Newcastle.
Perth-based architects Silver Thomas Hanley designed ECU's Joondalup Science building, featuring the world's largest periodic table.
Also appointed is global engineering company Stantec, which is the Lead Engineer for Civil, Structural and Building Services. Stantec is recognised for many Perth landmarks, including Elizabeth Quay and the Westin Perth.
Marshall Day will carry out the City Campus' acoustic engineering, following its successful acoustic delivery of Optus Stadium. Urbis will lead on town planning.
One of Australia's largest providers of quantity surveying, Donald Cant Watts Corke is already working on site.
International firm Haworth Tompkins is celebrated for its cutting-edge creations in performance spaces, including the revitalisation of The National Theatre in London.
The $695 million ECU City Campus is jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $245 million, the Western Australian Government $150 million and ECU $300 million.
The new campus will attract 9,200 students and staff by 2025, growing to over 11,000 students and staff by 2034. Construction will begin in 2021 and the campus will open in 2025.
For more information on the project visit www.citycampus.ecu.edu.au.
As stated by Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP:
"This major project will help drive economic growth in Perth by supporting over 3,000 construction jobs and creating more than 380 ongoing jobs.
"The new ECU City Campus will not only bring together students, teachers and experts across a range of sectors to foster learning and research, but it will be an important feature in the city's cultural landscape, create flow on economic benefits for local businesses and improve the city's vibrancy.
"The Morrison Government's record spending on infrastructure, including our investment in the $1.5 billion Perth City Deal, is central to our plan to drive Australia's world-leading economic recovery."
As stated by Western Australian Minister for Transport and Planning, the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA:
"The Perth City Deal will help re-energise the city and encourage more people back into the Perth CBD.
"We are pleased to partner with the Australian Government, City of Perth and ECU to deliver this state-of-the-art university campus right in the middle of the CBD.
"We anticipate that the campus will bring more than 8,000 students into the city from day one, creating flow on economic benefits for local businesses.
"I look forward to seeing the designs of the campus develop and take shape."
As stated by Federal Senator for Western Australia Ben Small:
"The Morrison Government's Perth City Deal is changing the face of our city forever.
"The imperative to diversify our economy has never been stronger and this is a key investment in Perth that will allow Western Australians to build our state's economic future with our trademark tenacity."
As stated by ECU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman:
"The ECU City Campus will be transformational, not only for our university, students and staff, but for Perth.
"The new campus will represent the future of university education and is one of the state's largest and most exciting building projects.
"Lyons, in partnership with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins, will bring a combination of local knowledge, design leadership, renowned expertise, and world-leading specialist capabilities that will capture our ambition and ensure the seamless delivery of the project.
"We are looking forward to these extraordinary minds not only conceptualising but delivering this unique project.
"I'm proud to say there are 23 Australian companies involved in this project and the vast majority are Perth-based companies. We are delighted to have them on board and offering their skills and capabilities to this transformational project."
The campus will be constructed on two lots adjacent to Yagan Square and will bring new life to the city with an estimated $1.5 billion economic output across the next four years, delivering more than $7.5 billion to the WA economy in the longer term.
