Designs revealed for new School of Music building

The University has unveiled the designs for the new building for the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music.

Designed by celebrated architect Moshe Safdie, the iconic building will be located at the gateway to the University’s Clayton campus.

Mr Safdie spoke about the plans while delivering the Sir Zelman Cowen Oration at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

View photos from the event
Watch the full oration video

The building has a number of versatile and beautiful performance spaces including an 800-seat concert hall, a 200-seat informal Jazz Café/Club, an outdoor amphitheatre, and The Salon – a 150-seat mini auditorium which can be reconfigured depending on the type of performance.

“The building’s exterior is constructed of reinforced concrete with inlaid stone, contrasting with the concert hall enclosure, which is stainless steel articulated by concrete ribs. The gentle arches, which reach upwards, reflect the sky and clouds and the surrounding trees during the day, and at night they glitter with the surrounding lights,” Mr Safdie said.

The entry is a dramatic Grand Hall, spanning the full height of the structure.

“The central Grand Hall is open to expansive vistas of the campus, east and west, the space glowing with filtered morning sunlight. In the late afternoon there might be a performance in the amphitheatre, with students gathering from around the campus for the occasion. A jazz ensemble group might be rehearsing for the evening’s performance in the jazz club, as preparations go underway, setting up the bars and refreshments for the night’s scheduled public concert,” Mr Sadie said.

“Later at night, the building transforms. While there would still be students working away on their instruments in the rehearsal rooms late into the night, the Grand Hall becomes an ornamentally lit foyer, as several hundred people gather for the night’s concert. As they wait to enter the concert hall, they enjoy glimpses into the jazz club with the overflow of its music coming out into the Grand Hall.”

There are also numerous rehearsal rooms – for single students through to ensembles – plus student and staff spaces. A fully equipped recording studio will enable the recording of local, national and international professional artists.

Take a virtual tour of the new building

“Taking advantage of Melbourne’s gentle climate and changing seasons, the building is designed for indoor/outdoor life. The amphitheatre, jazz club terrace and entry piazza flow into the building, providing open views into it at night. The building glows in the campus, exuding a sense of extrovertness; the life within it visible to all who surround it and pass by it,” Mr Safdie said.

Mr Albert Dadon AM, chairman of the fundraising campaign for the building and a noted musician, said that the environment was very important for music.

“While music can be played and learned anywhere, spectacular surroundings can inspire new levels of creativity. Our environment is a sounding board, an influence, a catalyst for exciting performances and often for opening new directions,” Mr Dadon said.

“The School’s world-class facilities will draw in the community, as well as attract new talent, new students from Australia and abroad. This is an important project for Monash, Victoria and Australia.”