Construction has topped out on the Market Way at 100 Franklin Street, a purpose-built student accommodation project in Melbourne marking a milestone for the 40-story development within the Queen Victoria Market precinct.
Delivered by Multiplex for Journal Student Living, the AUD$194 million project will provide 715 rooms and 1,010 student beds in a mix of shared and individual configurations. Designed by COX Architecture, the high-rise includes more than 3,000 square meters of communal amenities, such as study spaces, a library, gym, cinema, music and gaming rooms, and a rooftop terrace. Ground-floor retail and extensive bicycle parking are also included.
A key element of the development is the preservation of Burbank House, an 1840 heritage structure integrated into the project to house communal spaces including a library, dining areas, and entry lobby. The building was once home to inventor James Harrison, known for pioneering mechanical refrigeration.
The project incorporates extensive prefabrication, including offsite bathroom pods, precast façade panels, and modular curtain wall systems to improve construction efficiency. Archaeological investigations conducted before construction uncovered remnants of Harrison’s early ice-making equipment along with artifacts from the 1850s.
Market Way is expected to complete in September 2026, adding significant new student housing capacity in Melbourne’s central city.
Read more at Inside Construction.