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UniLodge at Zamia Residences (F07)
(Building 420, formerly Lot F07)
Curtin University, Bentley
Building 420 occupies Lot F07 within Curtin University’s Exchange precinct, on the corner of Koorliny Way and Beazley Avenue on the Bentley campus.
The ten-level building consists of:
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Zamia Apartments with 38 self-contained residences
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Curtin College
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education and commercial offices
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ground-floor shops, restaurants and food outlets
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hotel meeting and function rooms
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basement and on-site parking
The precinct was planned to contain accommodation, education, workspaces, shops, hospitality and public areas that remained active outside ordinary lecture hours.
Early plans for Lot F07
The original Greater Curtin development guidelines gave Lot F07 an area of approximately 3,933m².
The preferred use was student accommodation, supported by residential apartments, food and beverage tenancies, university facilities and parking. The indicative development allowed for:
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about 400 student beds
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30 residential apartments
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between 300 and 500 m² of retail, food and university amenity space
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a 160-bay basement car park for Curtin use
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an expected height of approximately eight levels.
During the consortium and design process, F07 changed from a predominantly student-accommodation proposal into a mixed-use hotel, apartment, education and commercial building.
By the later tender stage, the project scope identified F07 as a development containing a 60-room short-stay facility, 38 residential apartments, retail areas, approximately 3,000m² of commercial accommodation and parking.
The scope listed a total gross floor area of approximately 16,067m², with nine levels excluding the roof deck and 27 car bays within the F07 component. It also allowed around 843m² of speciality retail and food-and-beverage space.
A small proposed pocket park east of the main F07 building was removed from the construction package. Curtin retained the option of redeveloping that parcel separately at a later date.
December 2020
Greater Curtin and the Live-in Learning partnership
Building 420 formed part of Greater Curtin Stage One, later promoted as the Curtin Exchange precinct.
Curtin conducted a competitive procurement process during 2016 and 2017 for a private-sector consortium to design, finance, construct and operate the first stage. The selected group was the Live-in Learning consortium, led by InfraRed Capital Partners.
Rather than Curtin directly funding and operating every component, the arrangement brought together investors, builders, accommodation operators and facilities managers under a long-term partnership.
The wider Stage One development had an announced capital value of approximately $300 million and was delivered through a 35-year partnership. It included Building 420, Twin Dolphin Hall, St Catherine’s College, retail spaces and associated roads, services and landscaping. Probuild was appointed to construct the three main buildings simultaneously.
The $300 million figure applies to the combined Exchange development, not Building 420 alone.
Architect Six Degrees records a construction value of approximately $50 million for its Building 420 mixed-use project.
Design and architecture
Building 420 was designed by Six Degrees Architects, who describe the 420 building as consisting of:
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a boutique hotel
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residential apartments
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approximately 3,000 m² of education space
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approximately 800 m² of retail
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public and communal areas.
The firm worked within the Curtin Exchange masterplan alongside the architects of the neighbouring buildings, including Wardle and Nettleton Tribe. Realm Studios was responsible for the landscape design associated with the project.
The building was designed to place active uses around the lower levels, particularly along Koorliny Way and the adjoining pedestrian areas. Hotel, apartment and education functions occupy the upper levels, while shops and food outlets face the street and public spaces.
Its exterior uses dark brick, concrete, metalwork, glazing and recessed balconies. The building is broken into several connected forms rather than appearing as one large slab. The balconies, openings and changes in materials distinguish the hotel and residential portions while still presenting them as a single building.
The interiors of Zamia Apartments use timber finishes, muted stone-like surfaces and dark green details. The hotel uses timber and brass-toned finishes, intended to provide a warmer appearance than a conventional institutional building.
April 2021
Construction by Probuild
Probuild constructed Building 420 as one of three principal buildings delivered under the Greater Curtin Stage One contract. The company was selected to construct:
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Building 420 - Zamia Apartments building
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Building 431 - UniLodge Halls of Residence - Twin Dolphin Hall
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Building 433 - St Catherine’s College
Construction was expected to begin in August 2019, with the first stage originally scheduled to open in January 2022.
Crane and subcontracting records also confirm that Probuild operated the Greater Curtin project under job number 40735. An FG Cranes subcontract dated 22 November 2019 covered crane works across the development, with a final subcontract sum of approximately $2.4 million, although the deed relates to the combined Greater Curtin crane package rather than Building 420 alone.
Signs & Lines produced four sets of illuminated “exchange” lettering for Probuild’s tower cranes. The signs extended more than 8.5 metres, used painted aluminium letters and rope-style LED lighting and were mounted to the crane jibs.
Building 420 was substantially completed before Probuild entered voluntary administration in February 2022. It was one of the company’s final major completed Western Australian projects.
COVID-19 and completion
Most of Building 420’s construction occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. WA construction sites generally remained operating through much of the pandemic, although health controls, supply problems and labour shortages affected the industry.
Curtin was publicly promoting the Exchange accommodation as open during 2022, including Zamia’s one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
May 2021
Zamia Apartments
Zamia Apartments is the residential component of Building 420, which contains 38 self-contained apartments with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom configurations.
Unlike Twin Dolphin Hall, Zamia is not a conventional student residence made up of single rooms, shared kitchens and communal lounges. Its one, two and three-bedroom apartments are complete, self-contained homes intended for longer stays. Each includes an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, separate bedrooms, private bathrooms and a balcony overlooking the Curtin campus.
They can be leased by:
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Curtin students
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university staff
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industry partners
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visiting academics
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couples
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families
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other members of the Curtin community
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in some circumstances, members of the general community
Curtin specifically recommends Zamia for people who need accommodation suitable for a couple or family, because most other on-campus rooms are arranged for individual students. Availability is limited and demand is reportedly high.
Furnishings and inclusions
UniLodge manages Zamia Apartments, which are furnished and include:
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lounge suite
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coffee table
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dining table and chairs
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beds and mattresses
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bedside tables and lamps
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refrigerator
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front-loading washing machine
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clothes dryer
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outdoor table and chairs
They also include:
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ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning
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timber flooring through the living areas
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intercom access
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swipe-card security
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private balconies
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full kitchens
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internal laundry facilities
The one-bedroom apartment description includes a full kitchen with oven, cooktop, microwave, full-sized refrigerator and dishwasher. It also includes a living room, dining table, couch, television, study desk and chair, queen bedroom, ensuite and balcony. The listed maximum occupancy is two people.
The larger apartments follow the same self-contained model but provide additional bedrooms and living capacity.
Rental costs
Rental prices change between contract years and can vary according to apartment size, lease period and occupancy.
In 2026, Curtin Student Guild reported that the advertised cost of a three-bedroom Zamia apartment was reported to be more than $38,000 a year. Rental rates vary by apartment size and contract period. That works out to a little more than $730 a week.
Meaning of the Zamia name
The name presumably refers to the zamia, or Macrozamia riedlei, a cycad native to south-western Western Australia.
Zamia plants have considerable importance in the natural and Aboriginal history of the Perth region. They were growing throughout the area long before European settlement and are closely associated with the banksia and jarrah country on which the Bentley campus was constructed.
June 2021
Nesuto Curtin Perth Hotel
The hotel occupies another major portion of Building 420 and is operated by Nesuto. The original project scope described it as a 60-room short-stay facility consisting of:
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50 conventional hotel rooms
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five accessible rooms designed for guests with mobility or accessibility requirements
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five two-bedroom suites
The hotel’s standard rooms are approximately 31m², while accessible rooms are approximately 38m². Its two-bedroom suites are approximately 84m² and contain two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate living area and a small kitchenette. Private balconies overlook the university grounds.
The hotel was intended for:
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visiting academics
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business and industry guests
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families visiting students
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sporting groups
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conference attendees
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university visitors
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short and extended stays
Its location also places it near Curtin Stadium, Perth Hockey Stadium, Technology Park and the central bus station.
Hotel meeting and event facilities
Nesuto includes several function and meeting spaces:
Bentley Grand can be divided into two rooms and with its terrace, can accommodate functions of up to approximately 100 people.
These spaces allow Building 420 to be used for conferences, seminars, university events, business meetings and private functions in addition to accommodation.
Curtin College
Curtin College occupies education space within Building 420, primarily on Level 3 and is operated by Navitas. It provides pathway courses for students who do not yet meet the requirements for direct entry into Curtin University.
Its diploma courses follow Curtin’s curriculum and can allow students to progress into the second year of selected bachelor degrees once they meet the required academic standards.
Its location within the Curtin Exchange precinct means students can use the same campus facilities, services and social areas as Curtin University students from the beginning of their studies, rather than studying from a separate or temporary facility.
Retail and food outlets
The ground level of Building 420 was designed to accommodate shops and food outlets facing the Curtin Exchange precinct. Some of these tenancies did not open immediately after the building was completed, with several businesses beginning trade during 2023.
Outlets included:
Banh Mizzle
Seoul Brothers Korean Street Food
Banh Mizzle opened in May 2023, while several of the other businesses opened between June and October that year. Building 420 is also close to the IGA supermarket and the other food and hospitality venues located throughout Curtin Exchange.
Parking and transport
Early plans allowed for a large basement car park serving Curtin’s general parking needs but the later project schedule recorded only 27 parking bays within Lot F07. The completed development placed greater emphasis on walking, cycling and public transport than on providing a large commercial car park for Building 420.
End-of-trip and bicycle facilities were also included, with the architect’s completed project material showing a dedicated bicycle entrance to the building.
Sustainability
Curtin Exchange targeted a 5-Star Green Star Design and As Built rating. Measures incorporated across the project included systems intended to reduce energy use, water recycling, access to public transport, less reliance on private vehicles and landscaping integrated throughout the precinct.
The project was also financed with involvement from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and National Australia Bank, with sustainability requirements forming part of the funding arrangements.
Awards
The completed Curtin Exchange precinct later received several awards for its urban design, mixed-use planning, environmental performance and overall development. These included:
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2023 Australian Institute of Architects WA, John Septimus Roe Award for Urban De
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2023 Property Council of Australia WA, Best Mixed-Use Development
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2023 UDIA WA Masterplanned Communities Award
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2023 UDIA Environmental Excellence Award
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2024 UDIA National Awards for Excellence, Masterplanned Communities winner
The AIA urban design award credited Christou Design Group with Wardle, Nettleton Tribe and Six Degrees for Curtin Exchange Stage One.
November 2021
