Cycle storage facilities and toilets flushed with water collected from its rooftop will be among the environmentally friendly features of a multimillion-dollar building about to be constructed on the University of Otago campus.
The five-storey psychology department building would be built to the New Zealand Green Building Council's five-star green rating standard, property services director Barry MacKay said yesterday.
That meant ‘‘ticking the boxes'' on a range of environmental requirements, including the use of sustainably-produced and manufactured materials, natural ventilation, controllable window shades, rainwater harvesting and recycling, the installation of a wood-pelletfired boiler for heating, and secure bicycle racks.
It would be the university's second five-star building, he said. The other was the $9.5 million Hunter Centre on Great King St - a teaching and social centre for medical and dental students, due to be completed mid-way through this year.
Head of Psychology Prof Harlene Hayne said staff were extremely excited about the new building of five storeys and a full basement, which would stand next to other psychology buildings fronting Leith Walk.
‘‘We have been working in extremely cramped conditions for many years and it will be wonderful to have the muchneeded space for our teaching and research programmes.''
The large, two-storeyed Skyline construction office building now occupying part of the site would have to be moved, Mr MacKay said. It was being relocated to a vacant section on Clyde St and psychology staff would be based there until the new building was finished.
University chief operating officer John Patrick would not say yesterday how much had been budgeted for the new building, saying the university would not release that information until after a construction tender had been accepted.
Tenders would be called for next month and construction could start as early as June or July with the building expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2010 academic year.