Co-located in the Federation University Australia, Ballarat Precinct, SMB Campus, the Manufacturing Engineering Skills Centre (MESC) and Federation College (FedCol) Building has evolved from a merger of two separate design briefs; client groups; state and federal funding sources; to establish a single unified project. The building forms a regional focal point for each of the program requirements, where symbolism and identity within FedUni and Ballarat is paramount to the respective facility requirements.

The original FedCol (UBtec) brief was to deliver an education facility providing focused learning pathways with a technical emphasis for VOCAL training. The centre enables hands-on learning programs that ‘distil industry specific skills, work-related skills, literacy, numeracy and personal development relevant to life and work’. Furthermore, ‘the facility provides support for technically minded students whom have further university aspirations’.