The University of Melbourne's Melbourne School of Design (MSD) will establish a physical presence at the Arden Central development in Melbourne, Victoria, from 2027, under a developer-funded research partnership that positions the $7 billion precinct as a long-term "living lab" for nature-based urban excellence.

The initiative, known as MSD+, was announced on 22 October 2026. It brings together the university with development partners Hamton and Hostplus, along with not-for-profit Nature Based Cities, in a long-term research and education collaboration spanning the full 25-year delivery programme of the precinct.

The MSD+ building is due for completion in late 2027. The Arden Central site will be connected to the university's Parkville campus by a two-minute train ride via Arden Station, a physical proximity that underpins the structure of the partnership.

Arden Central University Arden Station render. Supplied

Living lab components

The research partnership is structured around several interconnected streams: the MSD+ building itself, an annual Nature Based Cities Research Grant, landscape-based experiments across the wider precinct, and a suite of public-facing learning and research programmes. Together, these are intended to create a platform through which students, researchers, industry professionals and the community can collaborate across built environment research and education.

Professor Alan Pert, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, says the partnership reflects a direct alignment between the university's research agenda and the project's broader ambitions.

"The mission of Nature Based Cities — to enable the property industry embed more nature into our urban environments — strongly aligns with our own research and ambitions and has helped inspire our collaboration with Hamton and Hostplus at Arden Central," Professor Pert says.

"The 'living lab' will bring together a range of applied research to test and measure nature-based approaches in a real urban environment — from biodiversity corridors and green roofs and facades to digital modelling and other emerging areas of research."

The research programme is designed to generate evidence that reaches well beyond the Arden Central site. "The ambition is to generate credible evidence that can be shared and replicated, helping to influence industry practice and accelerate the adoption of nature-based development well beyond Arden Central," Professor Pert adds.

Arden Central community parkland render. Supplied

Post-professional curriculum

Alongside its research function, the MSD+ building will house a new suite of post-professional short courses tailored to industry, government and community audiences. The curriculum is structured around key systemic challenges in the built environment, including circular and regenerative materials, city leadership, affordable and sustainable housing, and nature-based cities.

MSD Director Professor Dan Hill says the Arden Central location opens new ground for applied, practice-facing education.

"Arden Central provides contemporary teaching spaces for our new post-professional multidisciplinary courses," Professor Hill says. "These will be oriented around key systemic challenges, such as circular and regenerative materials, city leadership, affordable and sustainable housing, and nature-based cities."

"What happens at MSD+ and at Arden Central has the potential to shape the future built and living environment of Melbourne," Professor Hill adds.

Developer funding model

Arden Central is a $7 billion precinct undergoing a 25-year delivery programme under the Hamton-Hostplus joint venture. As part of the partnership, Hamton has committed to funding both the MSD+ building and the annual Nature Based Cities Research Grant.

Hamton Founder and Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM says the joint venture is committed to embedding nature-based research and teaching across the life of the project.

"The Hamton-Hostplus joint venture is delighted to be partnering with the best and brightest at the Melbourne School of Design to use the 25-year delivery program for the $7 billion Arden Central project as a 'living lab' for research and teaching in the field of nature-based design, excellence and innovation," Hameister says.

"Our commitment to funding the MSD+ building and annual Nature Based Cities Research Grant will underwrite our vision to deliver a global exemplar of nature-based urban development," he adds.

Arden Central Stage 1 development render. Supplied

The train connection between Arden Station and Parkville is positioned as a structural enabler of the collaboration. "This partnership is only possible because the Parkville and Arden Metro stations bring the two locations together within a two-minute train ride," Hameister says.

Images: Supplied

Architecture & Design Team

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