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UniLodge Halls of Residence (F04)
Twin Dolphin Hall (Building 431, formerly Lot F04)
Curtin University, Bentley
Twin Dolphin Hall is one of Curtin University's newest student accommodation buildings, providing housing for more than 500 students in the heart of the Bentley campus. Before it became Building 431, the site was known as Lot F04 during the planning and construction stages.
Constructed between 2019 and 2022 by Probuild Constructions, the project transformed what had previously been open university land into a ten-storey mixed-use student accommodation building as part of Curtin Exchange. The development represented one of the largest changes to the Bentley campus and would also become one of Probuild's final major completed projects in Western Australia before the construction giant entered administration in 2022.
December 2020
Western Australian Institute of Technology
The Curtin University site originally formed part of the Collier Pine Plantation, which covered the whole area until the pines were logged during the late 1960s, as the campus was constructed between Kent Street and Manning Road.
The Bentley campus was established for the Western Australian Institute of Technology, commonly known as WAIT. The institute was created under the Western Australian Institute of Technology Act 1966, as Perth Technical College could no longer accommodate the growing demand for technical and professional education. The main Bentley buildings were completed and officially opened in 1966, with the first students enrolling in 1967.
WAIT expanded quickly and gradually began offering degree courses and undertaking research comparable with established universities. In December 1986, legislation was passed granting the institute university status. It became Curtin University of Technology on 1 January 1987, named after former Australian prime minister John Curtin. The name was shortened to Curtin University in 2010.
Bentley was the first campus constructed specifically for WAIT and remains Curtin’s original main campus, although the institution’s educational origins can be traced to Perth Technical College and several other older Western Australian colleges that were later incorporated into WAIT..
March 2021
Before Twin Dolpin Hall
During the early 1980’s, the land that later became Lot F04 was only partly cleared at first. A wide access track extended from the road serving the Commonwealth Hockey Stadium, which ran off Dumas Road and provided vehicle access and informal parking for nearby tennis courts.
The parking area was bituminised around 2010 and continued to be used until earthworks for the Curtin Exchange redevelopment began towards the end of 2015.
By the mid-2010s, Curtin recognised that universities were becoming much more than lecture theatres and laboratories. Modern campuses increasingly included student housing, retail, restaurants, commercial offices and public spaces designed to keep students living and socialising on campus rather than just attending classes before going home.
This resulted in the Greater Curtin Masterplan, a major redevelopment program intended to transform the eastern side of the Bentley campus into a mixed-use precinct known as Curtin Exchange. The vision combined student accommodation, retail, offices, public plazas and community spaces into what was intended to become a new gateway to the university.
April 2021
Planning Lot F04
Within the Exchange precinct, the future Twin Dolphin Hall was identified as Lot F04.
Early concept plans prepared during 2018 proposed a much bigger mixed-use development than what eventuated. Along with student accommodation, the ground floor was intended to include a supermarket, retail tenancies facing Pine Plaza and Main Street, communal facilities, shared laundry, accessible change rooms and connections to surrounding public spaces.
The original planning also anticipated two separate student accommodation buildings, later known as Buildings 431 and 432. As the project developed, however, demand forecasts changed and only Building 431 proceeded. Building 432 was deferred, with only basement works completed so the site could accommodate future expansion if required.
The structural engineering concept for Building 431 was prepared by Wood & Grieve Engineers (now WSP) for Wu Yi Doric during 2018 as part of the Greater Curtin Stage One development.
May 2021
Construction begins
Following years of planning, Probuild Constructions was awarded the contract to construct major parts of Curtin Exchange.
Construction activity accelerated during late 2019 as the site was established and tower cranes were installed across the precinct.
Between 12 and 16 December 2019, Tower Crane 4 (TC4), a Potain MR295H20 luffing tower crane, was erected on the future Building 431 site.
The crane stood 44.7 metres height under hook (HUH) with a 50 metre jib and a 10 tonne lifting capacity. Rather than being installed by a mobile crane, it was assembled using the already completed TC3 Potain MR418 tower crane operating elsewhere on the Exchange project.
Three cranes operated at the same time:
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TC2 - Potain MR220
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TC4 - Potain MR295H20 (Building 431)
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TC6 - Potain MR295
FG Cranes was engaged by Probuild under a subcontract executed on 22 November 2019 for crane works associated with the Greater Curtin project.
June 2021
COVID-19
Only a few months after major construction commenced, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted building projects throughout Australia.
Although Building 431 was not shut down for a long period, construction occurred during one of the most difficult periods faced by the building industry. Contractors dealt with changing health requirements, workforce disruptions, supply chain delays and uncertainty surrounding imported building materials.
Despite these challenges, work continued and Building 431 was ultimately completed without the prolonged suspension experienced on some other Australian projects.
July 2021
The completed building
Once completed, Lot F04 officially became Building 431, later opening as Twin Dolphin Hall.
The ten-storey building provides accommodation for 518 students through a mix of studio apartments, accessible rooms and multi-share accommodation. Unlike traditional university dormitories, Twin Dolphin Hall was designed as a modern student community with a strong emphasis on communal living. Shared facilities include:
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Games room
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Theatre
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Master kitchen
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Outdoor terrace
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Multiple study spaces
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Shared laundry
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Bicycle storage
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Furnished rooms
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Utilities included
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Free Wi-Fi
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Off-peak Curtin Stadium gym membership
Ground floor retail and public spaces also helped connect the building with the Curtin Exchange precinct, encouraging interaction between students, staff and visitors.
Managed by UniLodge
Although owned as part of Curtin's student accommodation network, Twin Dolphin Hall is operated by UniLodge, one of Australia's largest student accommodation providers.
Residents lease furnished accommodation with electricity, water and internet generally included within their accommodation fees, removing many of the separate utility costs normally associated with private rental housing.
The building primarily caters for Curtin students, including domestic, interstate and international students seeking accommodation within walking distance of lecture theatres, libraries, sporting facilities and public transport.
November 2021
One of Probuild's last completed WA projects
Probuild Constructions completed the building shortly before the national construction company entered voluntary administration during February 2022, bringing an end to one of Australia's largest commercial builders.
While several Probuild projects across Australia were affected by the company's collapse, Building 431 had already reached practical completion, allowing students to begin moving into Curtin's newest hall of residence.
April 2022
