July 2017 is a major milestone in the life of the University of Newcastle with doors opening on their City education precinct, NeW Space.

 

Around 320 staff moved in on 3 July, with 3,500 students commencing study at the landmark building on 24 July with the commencement of Semester 2.

 

The $95 million project was funded from three sources:

• $30 million from the Commonwealth Education Investment Fund

• $25 million from the NSW State Government administered by the Hunter Development Corporation

• $40 million from the University of Newcastle

 

Located on the corner of Hunter and Auckland Streets, the striking NeW Space building includes 14,000 sqm over nine floors with 2316 sqm of teaching space, 2390 sqm of learning space and 4370 sqm of office space.

 

The concept design for NeW Space creates an innovative, vertical campus.

The vision was to provide a gathering place for the University and for Newcastle – a place for creative exchange, for meeting, for enhancing the business of the city – as well as a great place for students and academics to learn and research.

It includes:

• Business and Law programs

• Digital library services and information commons

• Collaborative learning and research spaces

• Work integrated learning

• Facilities for industry, professional and community engagement, and

• Social spaces.

 

The Green Building Council of Australia has awarded the NeW Space project a 5 Star Green Star – Education Design v1 Certified Rating, which represents ‘Australian Excellence’ in environmentally sustainable design. It is the first building in the Hunter to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Council of Australia.

 

Providing a “next generation” learning experience, the new city campus will be attractive to both domestic and international students as well as an excellent option for students who work and study part time. The facility supports online and blended learning as well as technology enabled delivery models of teaching. Collaborative spaces are also incorporated to enhance the overall student experience. NeW Space also provides increased opportunities to be associated with research in the city.

 

As well as the major advantages for students, NeW Space also provides significant benefits for the community, including:

• During construction employment on site was up to 200 people and with major flow-on for local manufacturing, supply, transport and support services.

• Increasing numbers of domestic and international students attracted to the city and surrounding suburbs

• Increased student numbers in the CBD lead to flow-on spending in the local economy

• More people on the streets out of normal business hours will make the city more vibrant

• Encouraging further investment in the CBD

• Attracting associated businesses such as cafes and restaurants, travel agents, bookshops, banks and other financial institutions that can also service the broader community.

 

APP Corporation was appointed as the project manager for NeW Space in 2013 after conducting a competitive tendering process.

A team of architects, consisting of leading Melbourne firm Lyons Architecture and prominent local firm EJE Architects, were appointed and produced the unique design which is sure to be a landmark for both locals and visitors to Newcastle.

 

Hansen Yuncken was awarded the Principal Contractor in April 2015 after a lengthy and in-depth tender process that included EOI, RFP and RFT processes. The company has successfully completed many previous contracts for the University and also some of the Hunter’s most awarded buildings.