RMIT Building 515

BACKGROUND Universities have a pedagogical ambition of connecting ideas with technical knowledge. This vision underpins the architectural project for the refurbishment of RMIT Building 515 on the Brunswick campus, designed by Paul Morgan Architects, Studio Roland Snooks and Zilka Studio. Through its construction and materiality, the project applies innovative material and manufacturing research developed at RMIT and demonstrates not only the potential of these particular techniques but embodying the idea of the university as testing ground for innovation in the wider world. CONTRIBUTION Complex visual and spatial relationships connect the workshop with studios and maker spaces in non-hierarchical space, enabling ad-hoc encounters. Objects and surfaces are designed with a heightened materiality and tactility for instrumental, pedagogical purpose, reflecting and referencing the material processes being taught within these spaces. In particular the studios are wrapped in intricate, algorithmically designed, 3D printed polymer walls that provide a unique focal point within the overall project, demonstrating the potential of the advanced manufacturing techniques being taught within the buildings spaces and studios. SIGNIFICANCE The polymer walls within this project are an expression of new design potential enabled by an innovative robotic large-scale 3D printing techniques developed at RMIT. The application of these techniques to architectural design represents a material and manufacturing innovation, one of the few realisations of 3D printed polymer applied to architecture in the world. Associated innovations relating to jointing, adhesives, integration with adjacent materials, materials engineering to respond to fire codes are also embodied in the realisation of this project. These material and manufacturing innovations have been presented as part of a book chapter in the esteemed Fabricate series published by UCL Press.