Billard Leece Partnership recently completed the La Trobe University Wodonga campus student accommodation which provides residential support for students studying in rural and regional areas in order to access ongoing studies. A dining room of 175 seats supports new student accommodation for 200 students in Bendigo. The Center caters for all residential students, provides a commercial kitchen to undertake wider campus and off-site catering and generally provides greater campus amenity for students and staff enhancing the Bendigo campus collegiate atmosphere.

The structure of a dining room is conceived as a veranda or treetops space. The dining hall takes advantage of a northerly aspect and has views across the campus, to the city and into bush land. The views out at both ends are framed by, or through, tree canopies. Established trees form an outdoor eating area at the entry.

The dining room building is wrapped in faceted aluminum mesh pyramid-like cells, providing aesthetic quality, shading and sense of privacy, while it actually offers hidden space for outdoor vertical communications.

The overall design aim is to provide a strong sense of communal space, both within the residential precinct and within each individual housing pod. The bedrooms, support spaces and circulation of each building are arranged around a north facing courtyard with views into the courtyard from living and circulation areas, while individual student bedrooms are located with outward looking views. Natural light, views and natural ventilation are provided in all bedrooms through large window openings.