ACU Blackfriars Residence

The Blackfriars Residence is a student housing project located in ACU’s Canberra Signadou Campus that renewed its original purpose of living and studying together. 

Drawn from the existing heritage architecture.

Once a priory for the Dominican Fathers for seminarian studies, the heritage-listed Blackfriars Building was for a period converted to offices and teaching spaces.  The project refurbished 42 original bedrooms into modern accommodations with associated communal and social spaces that ensured comfortable and inclusive living spaces foster learning and personal growth.    

On a half-octagonal level forming around a full octagonal courtyard and cloister below, the accommodation followed the original priory layout, which was left largely unchanged, but sleeping and living arrangement was reversed to a new communal centre that gathered human interactions, whilst more individualistic and private activities were kept to the edges. 

The communal centre included functional areas for cooking, meals, lounging, games, and laundry.  Dormitory-style bedrooms with kitchenettes in two wings to each side, with shared amenities located at each corner of the octagon. 

nettletontribe’s bold and distinctive colour palette of the Blackfriars Residence draws inspiration from the existing heritage architecture, beautifully complementing the architectural style of the original building and the mosaics of Fr Maurice Keating, infusing the space with vibrancy and energy.   With new students living on campus, this student housing project in Canberra has successfully integrated the legacy of the campus founding into the continuing mission of the ACU in pursuit of knowledge, the dignity of the human person, and the common good.