Four practices have been shortlisted in the competition to design the Victorian Pride Centre, launched in August this year.

From a field of 18 entries, Grant Amon Architects and Brearley Architects + Urbanists; BKK & Sibling Architecture; Hayball; and Preston Lane Architects were selected as finalists in the Victorian Pride Centre Design Competition.

The Victorian Pride Centre will be the first facility in the country to be exclusively dedicated to “LGBTI art and history, [bringing] together advisory, health and support services, and [featuring] community spaces to provide a safe social environment”. 

It will sit on a 1,600-square-metre site in Melbourne’s St Kilda, where the city’s annual Pride March has been held since 1996. The local City of Port Phillip council donated the $13-million site free of charge.

According to Victorian Pride Centre Board chair, Jude Munro, “[the Pride Centre] will house up to 10 major organisations as permanent tenants and will provide flexible and multi-use spaces for use by smaller LGBTI community organisations for meetings, training, rehearsal and other activities”.

“Facilities and spaces will also include a health service, library, prayer room, café/bar, theatrette and gallery.”

The four shortlisted design practices will now progress to Stage Two of the competition. A winner will be selected by the jury in early 2018.