ECU City, Edith Cowan University’s purpose-built city campus, is now alive with thousands of students streaming through its doors for the very first time. Located opposite Yagan Square in the heart of the CBD, the 11-super-level campus brings together creative industries, business, technology, and the performing arts under one roof.
Jointly funded by the Federal and State governments, alongside ECU, the campus represents a nearly $200 million State Government investment and is Perth’s first comprehensive inner-city university. It’s a bold addition to the Perth cityscape, promising to inject fresh energy into the CBD and Northbridge precincts.
The facility itself is hard to miss. Its distinctive media architecture façade spans two sides of the building, while the main foyer houses one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest indoor LED displays, featuring a curated programme of dynamic and immersive digital content. Together, they transform the campus into a year-round creative canvas for students, staff, and the public alike.
Inside, the campus features state-of-the-art teaching spaces alongside specialist facilities for business, law, creative arts, and technology. Screen and media production studios sit alongside extensive student support and wellbeing services. Eight public performance venues will also host more than 300 performances each year.
Things to do in Perth
The new home of WAAPA
ECU City is now the home of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), incorporating the Minderoo Centre for Performance Excellence. WAAPA joins the School of Business and Law, creative humanities programmes from the School of Arts and Humanities (including the WA Screen and Media Academy), technology and cyber security programmes from the School of Science, and Kurongkurl Katitjin, the University’s Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research.
A boost for the CBD
With around 8,500 students and staff set to be based at the campus from semester one, local businesses are already gearing up for the daily influx of foot traffic. The campus sits directly above Perth Busport, with the train station just a short walk away, making it one of the most accessible university campuses in the country.
