# Visually Arresting Educational Buildings The Melbourne School of Design Has a Spectacular Design By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2015-05-23 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/melbourne-school-of-design References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/melbourne-school-design/37647/) & [msd.unimelb.edu.au](https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/) Ironically enough, the [Melbourne School of Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gardeners-house-1) building was infamous for years because of its plain, drab and uninspiring structure. However the new version of the building is anything but -- it's visually stunning, environmentally friendly and provides an inspiring space for design students to do their thing. The building's centerpiece is a stalactite-like structure that is home to three [studio classrooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atelier-ppw) stacked upon one another. This 'suspended studio' tower dangles from the ceiling and stops a couple of meters from the floor, providing shelter to students sitting underneath and working away. This new Melbourne School of Design cost $102 million and took over a year to build, but stands out as an example of design that is [sustainable and practical](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-educational-architecture). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Innovative Educational Buildings:** Designing educational buildings with unique architecture and environmentally friendly features can inspire creativity and boost student engagement. - **Sustainable School Design:** Building visually stunning schools that are also environmentally sustainable is becoming a trend in educational architecture. - **Interactive Learning Spaces:** Creating interactive and visually stimulating spaces for students to learn can enhance their overall educational experience. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** With the rise of innovative and sustainable school designs, architecture firms have the opportunity to create unique and groundbreaking buildings for educational institutions. - **Education:** As more schools prioritize visually stimulating and environmentally friendly design, the education industry has the opportunity to enhance the learning experience for students. - **Construction:** The trend towards sustainable and visually arresting educational buildings presents opportunities for construction companies to specialize in eco-friendly and unique construction techniques. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marie-esther-pavilion.md) - [Education Architecture Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rainbow-international-school.md) - [Perforated Facade School Exteriors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darlington-public-school.md) - [Blue-Toned School Makeovers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fuquiang-school.md) - [Sustainable Educational Architecture Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-educational-architecture.md) - [Dome-Style School Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/al-fanar.md) - [Nature-Promoting School Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/primary-school-1.md) - [Playful International School Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/red-house-school-villalobos.md) - [Inclusive Learning Campuses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swan-hill-specialist-school.md)