Massey University has lodged building consent applications for two major construction projects as part of a $120 million development of its Auckland campus.
The University will construct a 9800 square metre “innovation hub” including research laboratories, clinics, teaching spaces, and staff and postgraduate student workspace on the main part of the campus, the East Precinct off the Albany Expressway.
The second consent application is to extend the Sir Neil Waters building, named after the former Vice-Chancellor who established the campus in 1993, to provide additional space.
The sale of the campus’ Ōtehā Rohe site, located on Albany Highway, became final last week and will help fund the planned developments.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says the development is designed to ensure the campus serves the needs of the predicted growth in student numbers.
“Massey has bold plans for its Auckland campus and sees the campus as the heart of a smart innovation district in Auckland North, which is an extremely fast-growing region with huge potential,” Professor Thomas says.
“Our aim is to create a world-leading hub for 21st century education and, to achieve this, we have a structured development plan, with the construction of the innovation complex and Sir Neil Waters building extension representing the next stage of development.
“These construction projects represent the biggest development since the campus was established.”
Work on the Sir Neil Waters extension is scheduled to begin late next year and be completed at the end of 2019; the innovation hub will commence in 2019 and take about three years.
Professor Thomas says the innovation hub will offer flexible lab space, accommodating the variety of health and sciences disciplines taught on the campus. With around one-third of the campus’ students studying at a postgraduate level, the building also features a space dedicated to their learning needs.
She says the University is working to ensure environmentally sustainable practices are incorporated into the buildings’ design.
The 175 staff members currently located at Ōtehā Rohe will gradually relocate to the campus’ East Precinct from late 2019.