Scape, Uni Partner for First PBSA-Campus Hybrid

Plans to create the first student living tower that shares space with a university in Australia are coming to fruition in Melbourne.

PBSA provider Scape and RMIT University have formed a partnership aimed at delivering more student accommodation in the Victorian capital, with RMIT Training to lease the 10,000sq m Scape Franklin building at 97-99 Franklin Street.

The deal means educational facilities and purpose-built student accommodation shared the building, providing a one-stop shop for international students. 

RMIT Training has leased the $500-million building for a 15-year term from Scape.

“Scape Franklin will be the first building in Australia shared between a university and a purpose-built student accommodation provider, offering a unique live and learn opportunity,” Scape Australia founder Stephen Gaitanos said.

RMIT Training provides pathway courses for students planning to study for a degree in Australia—30 per cent of international students at RMIT University having done a RMIT Training course.

▲ Scape Franklin has more than 940 student beds and will now also boast educational facilities.

Scape will develop the building to RMIT Training’s requirements including co-working spaces, art studios, wet labs and student lounges.

The developer acquired the 2000sq m site in 2016 and built Scape Franklin, which comprises 940 student beds in a mix of shared apartments and studios.

There are also communal spaces including study areas, lounges, a cinema, gaming rooms, terraces and barbecue areas.

It has three retail spaces on the ground floor with a cafe in operation since April, 2022.

Scape and RMIT plan to open the new training campus at Scape Franklin in late August.

The Federal Government recently announced that educational institutions will be required to provide purpose-built student accommodation and would be encouraged to partner with the private sector to do so.