WHEN: Thursday 4 September 2008, 7.00pm
WHERE: RMIT Building 50, Orr St (off Victoria St) Carlton
WHO: David Waldren, Victorian Design Manager, Grocon
Construction giant Grocon has entered a partnership with the Victorian Government, Yarra Community Housing and non-profit organisation Homeground Services to build a supportive housing facility for the homeless at 660 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. It will be based on a New York model known as Common Ground, which incorporates the services the homeless may require in one facility.
The partnership was announced publicly by the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, on April 24, 2008. Grocon is building the facility at cost and many consultants with whom Grocon works have already agreed to work on an at-cost or pro bono basis. Works are expected to commence late in 2008 and be complete by around August 2010. 
A national body known as Common Ground Australia has been formed, with Therese Rein as its national patron. This will be the first such facility in Victoria , although one has already been built in South Australia . Similar facilities for the homeless are planned right around the country.
David Waldren, Design Manager of Grocon’s Victorian arm, has managed several multi-million dollar projects in the past including a joint venture between the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. David is an architect and fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership program.
We invite you to learn more about the objectives behind this project and how they will be delivered.
Entry by gold coin donation, refreshments provided.
Help us to promote the event: view and download poster – here
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Watch the video of the presentation…
Common Ground Supportive Housing Project from Architects for Peace on Vimeo.
Presented by David Waldren (Grocon) in conjunction with Architects for Peace Melbourne.
September 4, 2008
