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Arup creates new Nature and Science Precinct at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
19 July 2019

Arup has been appointed to deliver multidisciplinary engineering design services for a significant development for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV). 

The Royal Botanic Gardens are one of Melbourne’s most visited tourist destinations, and this project will help to position the area as a nature and science precinct, centrally located between the city’s famous sports and arts precincts. 

 

Working with John Wardle Architects and Kerstin Thompson Architects, Arup will bring local and global expertise in designing public spaces, both above and below ground, to the project, which will re-imagine the southern side of the Gardens and provide a new home for the priceless State Botanical Collection.

The project will also open up existing buildings to the public and help create a connection with RBGV’s important research and curation work. 

At the heart of the project is the restoration of the heritage-listed 1934 Herbarium building, and creation of a new state-of-the-art underground Herbarium facility. This new building will contain a two level ‘vault’ to house Victoria’s priceless State Botanical Collection and significant new curation and laboratory spaces for RBGV’s science and curation teams. 

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The vision for this project aligns strongly with our own values of delivering sustainable design solutions for the benefit of future generations. ” Finola Reid Finola Reid Principal | Technical Services – Australasia Leader

The project also includes a new facility for RBGV’s staff. This new building will provide an inspiring workplace that allows RBGV staff to be co-located for the first time.

In addition, there will be internal refurbishments to historic buildings in the Melbourne Observatory, a new Learning and Participation Centre and re-focused Entry Forecourt.

“We are delighted to be involved in this significant project for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria which continues our long engagement with this state-significant landmark, where we first designed the Visitor Centre in 1996,” said Finola Reid, Arup Project Director.   

The project is expected to be completed in 2021.