University of Otago plans to build a $6.25 million child-care centre in Castle St, Dunedin, are moving closer to reality as demolition work continues.
The new centre, due to be completed in March next year, will provide room for 140 equivalent full-time (FTE) children- boosting child-care capacity at the university by 50%.
The centre will be located in Castle St, opposite Selwyn College.
Eleven buildings, in Montgomery Ave and Castle St, will be demolished to make way for the project, although the facades of five Victorian villas in Castle St will be retained.
The child-care complex will extend a block east of Castle St, to Montgomery Ave, where several buildings have already been demolished by Hall Bros since work began last week.
The main contractor is Amalgamated Builders Ltd.
Otago University Early Childcare Association president Sarah Young said it was ''brilliant'' that the project had got under way.
University property services director Barry MacKay said the centre would cater for 28 children under 5, and the centre would include landscaped internal play space, as well as dining and quiet sleep rooms.
