Charles Darwin University City Campus Concept

The aim is to create an iconic building “that links city-based elements of CDU to each other and to various parts of the city, and offers the potential to re imagine the CBD with the university at its heart”. The proposed city campus includes educational facilities, student accommodation, commercial offices, multi-level car parking, retail and a library/gallery.

The site fronts Barneson Boulevard, a new arterial connection to Darwin and one of only two significant entry points to the city.The development is seen as a new landmark gateway, signifying the entry to the CBD, and the site is one of the last open spaces left in the city centre (currently an open air public carpark owned by the City of Darwin). Three high rise towers, rotated 45 degrees off the city grid, allow for ideal east west axis, minimising the solar heat load on the larger facades. The building features “sky gardens” and vertical green balconies, inspired by Singapore’s green high-rise movement. Vertical and horizontal blades have been extensively used to maximise shading from Darwin’s harsh tropical sun.

The buildings mass are elevated at podium level with a multilevel underground carpark that can be accessed from both Woods and Litchfield streets. Elevating the base of the buildings and lowering the carpark creates Darwin’s first proposed “public plaza” - a focal point for students,community events and CBD users. The open podium level allows a series of several important cross links through the site linking Frogs Hollow Park, Litchfield Street and Cavenagh Street. Lush tropic vegetation zones are incorporated at ground level, creating places of refuge during hotter months. Sky walks between towers link elevated green spaces for students and staff and a public library is proposed for the smaller tower off Cavenagh Street activating the street frontage and allowing easy access for the general public and students.