Relative led two workstreams alongside AECOM as part of the Estate Infrastructure Masterplanning team for University of Melbourne's six campuses — Parkville, Burnley, Southbank, Werribee, Dookie and Creswick. This ground plane framework now informs the University's long-term strategic vision for its estate, providing a consistent reference as each campus continues to develop independently.

Design Strategy

Our work connected the student experience within active uses across social spaces, public interfaces, retail, food and informal learning spaces. The six campuses differ in scale, context, architecture and student population — from Parkville's inner urban footprint through to Dookie's regional and expansive setting. We developed a coherent framework flexible enough to hold this spectrum.

Design System

We produced design concepts for circular and prefabricated architectural fitouts, working with Aecom's circular economy team to integrate into principles. As a separate workstream, we led the wayfinding masterplan and developed a new wayfinding and signage design system for implementation across all campuses, at all scales. This work holistically shapes the student experience at each campus — through a logic of programs, spaces, micro infrastructures, materials and fabricated elements.

Identity, amenity and legibility are the focus: creating a sense of welcome, places to eat alongside informal learning, and intuitive wayfinding that removes friction and urban clutter. The strategies also tied together urban seating, shelter and hardscape, in collaboration with the joint team.