The University of Wollongong has revealed details of its $53 million arts and social sciences building, set to be built at the western edge of its main Gwynneville campus.
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With a 9000 square metre footprint and four storeys, it has been designed in a L-shape with full-height glass windows to capture views towards Mount Keira.
Identified in UOW’s 20-year master plan, the building will house theatres, galleries, video production rooms, offices and an arrival forecourt which is designed to serve as a “gateway” to the new Campus West Precinct.
Documents lodged with NSW Planning also show the building will require the removal of 113 trees and will result in the loss of 130 car spaces in the western car park.
However, the landscape proposal would involve the planting of new native trees, offsetting the removal requires to construct the building.
On parking, the university says students using the building will be accommodated at Wollongong TAFE, where 150 parking spaces are being leased by the university, as well as an expanded northern car park.
The free NSW Government shuttle – which is to become a paid service next year – is also mentioned as part of the building’s transport strategies, and the plans provide 13 bicycle spaces, 64 lockers and four change rooms.
In the documents now on exhibition, the university has asked to be fully exempt from paying Wollongong City Council development contributions.
Known as Section 94A contributions, the fees are applied to developers across the city and are charged at a percentage of the capital cost of the development.
They are used by the council to offset the cost of public facilities, like roads and paths.
The university has previously been exempt from paying the levy, but the council last year changed its policy so that these exclusions did not automatically apply to tertiary education providers.
However, with an application, the university may claim a full exemption for facilities like classrooms, lecture theatres and administrative offices.
The plans will be open for comment through NSW Major Projects until December 15.