Luxe ‘student villages’ inside $62 million CBD tower

In a Melbourne first, every resident in a new $62 million CBD student tower will have their meals catered for, along with a rooftop terrace, gym, cafe and cinema.

An artist's impression of the 24-storey student tower to be built at 23-29 Victoria St in Melbourne.

A $62 million student tower has been approved for Melbourne despite the city’s lucrative international university sector being crippled by border closures.

The City of Melbourne has given the green light for a futuristic 24 storey building in the city’s north east, close to RMIT and Melbourne University.

In a Melbourne first, every student in the tower will have their meals catered for with a large purpose-built kitchen and communal dining hall part of the plans.

Students will be housed across 19 of the floors and have access to a rooftop terrace, BBQ area and multi function spaces overlooking the CBD.

“The rooftop terraces will provide a multifunctional outdoor space for dining, events and functions for residents and their guests, taking advantage of surrounding views,’’ the permit application said.

The building, to be constructed for student accommodation provider Scape, will include “communal hubs’’ offering break out spaces, landscaped terraces, a gym, cafe and cinema.

The tower at 23-29 Victoria St will also feature a winter garden, window study desks with city views and group meeting areas.

Deputy Mayor Nicholas Reece said it was encouraging developers “are keen to continue investing in the future of our city” despite another lockdown.

“This site is the last of Melbourne’s CBD petrol stations, making this a historic redevelopment,’’ he said.

Every student in the tower will have their meals catered for with a large purpose-built kitchen and communal dining hall.

“Having high-quality student accommodation will play a key role in attracting students from across Australia and overseas as we look to re-open Melbourne and plan for post-Covid life.”

Plans for a $50 million mixed use office and retail tower were previously approved by the council.

But amended plans, recently approved, switched the development to student accommodation, with changes to the design indoor and out.

The large communal dining hall will offer students a fully catered and staffed kitchen serving meals all day.

“This is supplemented by communal kitchenettes provided throughout the tower for student use to allow for individual cooking and hosting of resident dinner parties,’’ the successful submission said.

The tower will be divided into three storey “villages’’ of up to 75 students who will access their own communal spaces and study areas.

Victoria’s universities have taken a hit of more than $500 million this year with closed borders due to the coronavirus pandemic locking out foreign students, many from China and India.

The financial impact of no international students is expected to impact the state’s biggest industry until at least 2024.

Universities have called for the return of international students, with Scape among accommodation providers offering to run quarantine programs in their buildings.