The University of Otago is re-evaluating the
design of its building at the Forsyth Barr Stadium site after
a preliminary concept report said the building would need to
be larger and more expensive than first anticipated.
A restriction on the number of windows in one of the external
walls because of fire safety concerns meant internal atriums
had to be included to ensure acceptable levels of natural
light inside the building.
That had pushed out the overall size of the building and
pushed up the expected cost, two reports to yesterday's
university council meeting said.
The university had already announced plans to spend about $45
million building on a 13,400sq m L-shaped building
immediately to the west of the stadium to house several
stand-alone activities including Student Health, the Unipol
gymnasium and the foundation studies department, and possibly
child-care facilities, research spaces and a cafe.
Another $5.6 million is being spent on the land beneath the
building.
A two-stage construction project was being considered, with
the building adjoining the west wall of the stadium going up
first and the rest being left until after the Rugby World Cup
in October 2011.
The university's design team had worked hard to produce, in
just four weeks, a "well-considered" concept for the stadium
building which met the university's needs and the constraints
of the site, property services director Barry MacKay said in
his report.
However, he said the design was being re-evaluated by the
project team to see if the size and cost could be reduced.
That process was expected to take two to three weeks.
In a second report, financial services director Grant
McKenzie said the concept design was "well over budget" and
work was under way to reduce the cost.
As long as university approval for the scheme is given before
Christmas and there were no further issues, the building
should be completed in time for the World Cup, Mr McKenzie
said.
No-one from the university was available yesterday to comment
on the details of the concept plan, the increased size of the
building, the increased cost, whether any of the proposed
facilities might have to be eliminated from the amended
design, or whether the building would still be built in two
stages.
What a blow to the city
I'm surprised that the DCC hasn't suggested or demanded the ratepayers of Dunedin to dig deeper into their already empty pockets to help the university out for the sake of appearances at the rugby world cup.
Shoe about to drop
The last original justification for building the thing - joint construction with the University of Otago - could be about to drop away if this project doesn't get approved. Put this together with "University facing testing times" and one wonders how easy/prudent it actually is for the University to go ahead with this project when there are better options to ease space in North end already.
Needs, wants...
But wait a minute, I'm sure I just read the uni needs more money for operating costs and is now suggesting interest on student loans. Anyone would think they are having budget issues... or is it they are just confusing needs with wants, with a touch of colosseum fever and the need for never ending "progression". Things need to change around here.
Well over budget
With the University pushing the student fees to to the maximum, it looks like Dunedin ratepayers aren't the only ones being 'put through the wringer' by Awatea Street. Clearly, yet again - 'those at the top' have no sympathy - or idea - what it is like in the real world. They must have their edifices, at any price.
Dates and times
I was thinking about this the other day and wondering what had happened to the University's project - I'm guessing there's probably going to be a big construction site attached to the stadium during the Rugby World Cup.