Kambri, a new beating heart for the Australian National University. Politics may be the lifeblood of Canberra’s identity, but its heartbeat is the university, ANU. Here world-changing research sets the pace for critical thinking. Our challenge: to remake the central precinct and give ANU’s intellectual life a replenishing home life - a student experience as world-class as its research. And, a place of pride for the nation’s capital. This was a once-in-generation opportunity. Rarely do Tier 1 universities decide to remake their campus in a single step. Like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, ANU is a university that’s integral to its host city. The challenges were many but the possibilities even greater. We first approached Kambri as an urban design project, throwing open its doors to the community and stitching it into the city. Scrapping formal gateways and extending University Avenue into the heart of the campus created a welcoming approach. Bicycle paths linking the creek to Lake Burley Griffin brought cyclists naturally into the site. And a vibrant events precinct enticed people into the many new spaces to ensure this heart of the campus would be full of life. The success of Kambri hinged on a close working relationship with the university and builder. An integrated approach to design and construction was essential to minimise the impact on university operations. By employing prefabrication, we were able to achieve the seemingly impossible goal of completion within 18 months. Every aspect of the project was scrutinised against sustainability principles. By employing “One Planet Thinking” the team brought these together in a vision for a city made better by a future-ready university. Our commitment to sustainability saw the project achieve major milestones both for BVN and for architecture broadly. Notably, the Kambri precinct included two of Australia’s largest ever timber buildings. Combined with pre-fabricated mega panel facades these buildings not only lowered embodied carbon, but enabled high-speed installation. The project had an impressively low ecological footprint of 0.6 earths, 50% of the average university. Lecture theatres and learning spaces were also re-imagined as ANU’s education model shifted. We prioritised multi-purpose reconfigurable spaces over fixed single use. Large format spaces that can morph into inviting cultural spaces. And small informal spaces where individuals and small groups could blend into a melting-pot unconstrained by departmental boundaries. As a home away from home, an important element of Kambri was new student accommodation. Locating this within the heart of the precinct nurtured a true village atmosphere. The vibrancy we sought through our urban design approach, was anchored by the close proximity of this student housing, ensuring a safe, happy and energised campus centre. The value of such a premium student experience translates into high university rankings, student demand, and revenue. At every level the new campus has brought to ANU a new sense of harmony, and an unrivalled university experience.