Merri-bek City Council has launched a design competition for the Coburg Library and Piazza with the first stage being an Expressions of Interest (EOI). The competition is now open to multi-disciplinary design teams, which should include a Lead Architect and a Landscape Architect (noting that the eligibility criteria is limited to Australia). To get access to the EOI competition documents, the Lead Architect should register first. Registrations online are open until 24 June 2025. All registrations will be reviewed and respondents notified once their eligibility has been verified.
About the project
Coburg Library will be a place of connection, cultural expression and life-long learning. With flexible spaces to read, learn, make and connect, the library will evolve to meet the diverse and changing needs of the community. The adjacent piazza will welcome all to gather, participate, play and rest. It will reflect and respect Country and contribute to environmental regeneration, resilience and biodiversity. Together, the library and piazza will embody Coburg’s unique identity and form the heart of the precinct.
Key project considerations:
- a general library with area’s for family and youth, cultural spaces, a makerspace, artist in residence and a cafe.
- total building GFA 3,000sqm.
- a 2,000sqm. piazza with gathering spaces to support community events
Eligibility
To be eligible, teams must include a lead architect who
- is a practising Architect, architectural company or architectural partnership within Australia, who is eligible to register as an architect in Victoria, pursuant to the Architects Act 1991 (VIC);
- has been registered as a business with an ABN/ACN for no less than five years*;
- has delivered principal design services on a built project with a construction budget of no less than $10m, and
- does not comprise an unincorporated joint venture, architects in association or other partnering arrangement with another entity.
*Note: Registrants who can demonstrate relevant continuous ABN registration for no less than 5 years, albeit under different ABN’s, are eligible to register if they can provide satisfactory explanation of the continuity of their ABN registration.
Find out more at https://citylab.com.au/projects/merribek
WLA is not associated with this design competition, please direct any questions to the organisers through their website.
