Jaxon starts building Forrest Hall

Construction has started on the University of Western Australia’s Forrest Hall, a $16 million accommodation facility designed to attract the world’s best researchers to the state.

Local building outfit Jaxon has been contracted to carry out the works, which are ramping up after the contractor mobilised to site in September.

The project, which will comprise 33 self-catering one and two-bedroom apartments over four floors, was made possible through a $65 million donation by Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.

That donation was understood to be the largest single philanthropic donation in Australian history, with $15 million going towards building Forrest Hall, and the remaining funds to fund scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships at all of the state’s five universities.

Forrest Hall will be affiliated with St Georges College, one of five residential facilities at UWA.

Jaxon general manager of business development, Mark Kepplinger, said the company was delighted to work with UWA as a client for the first time.

“Jaxon prides itself on delivering absolute quality on projects regardless of the challenges and will bring this experience to building Forrest Hall,” he said.

“We look forward to completing a bespoke structure in keeping with the character and prestige of the existing university.”

Forrest Hall was designed by local architecture firm Kerry Hill Architects, which also designed the City of Perth Library, and also won an international design competition for Adrian Fini and Victor Goh’s upcoming hotel, art gallery and apartments complex at Elizabeth Quay.

The project will be built on the corner of Mounts Bay Road and Hackett Drive, with practical completion expected in January 2018.