Sidney Myer Asia Centre

The Sidney Myer Asia Centre is a multi-purpose building that responds to a range of functions to serve the needs of both University teaching and exhibition space and the headquarters of an education/business group, Asialink. The building is located on the major entry axis to the University and will form the southern edge of a masterplanned principal entry forecourt to be realised in due course and in accordance with the University masterplan. The teaching facilities support the needs of the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies and incorporates a 500 seat lecture theatre, language laboratories, general teaching spaces and research bases for PHD students together with the necessary staff offices.

The building area of 5,700 m2 has five levels on Swanston Street with the theatre located in the basement below. The creation of the basement theatre provided an opportunity to create a landscaped ramp connection diagonally through the site from a new major grassed open spaced to connect to University buildings to the south that previously were isolated. - Australian Institute of Architects