Designed to meet the evolving needs of Gen Z and future Gen Alpha students
Selwyn Street Student Accommodation
This project responds to a challenging, compact site with a creative, ‘vertical village’ approach. The design accommodates 93 student rooms and a manager’s room across four levels, maximising limited space while promoting student interaction.
Each floor fosters its own community, with bright, vibrant communal spaces designed to encourage social connection and shared learning experiences.
This project exemplifies how thoughtful design can turn a constrained site into a thriving student hub, contributing to the broader University of Waikato city ecosystem in Tauranga.
A north-facing courtyard creates a hub for social and recreational activity throughout the day, reinforcing a sense of openness and inclusion.
A communal ‘MasterChef-style’ kitchen provides an educational environment that reflects the principles of pedagogy, facilitating learning and collaboration among students.
Bright colours accentuate the common areas, contrasting with the muted tones of the student bedrooms - designed to provide calm, restful spaces conducive to study and relaxation.
The design embraces inclusivity, belonging, and community, creating spaces where students can engage, learn, and connect. It provides a modern, adaptable living solution for future generations, while maintaining a strong sense of place that reflects Tauranga’s vibrant coastal lifestyle.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) was used for the building’s above-ground floors and main staircase, enabling faster construction and reducing the overall weight of the structure. This sustainable material choice not only expedites the building process but also supports the project’s environmental goals, creating a lighter, more resilient structure.
Student residences such as these are a core component in the make-up of a tertiary campus and will strengthen student life here. This building is a substantial investment in the city’s CBD and will not only benefit the tertiary precinct by offering the best in student accommodation but also the wider community in helping strengthen this period of revitalisation currently under way in the CBD
Collective Effort
Collective Effort
