The University of Otago paid $1.75 million to buy the Castle St tavern, known affectionately as "the Gardies", which was closed by former owner Pete Innes-Jones on the eve of the penultimate All Black test at Carisbrook, last year.
The university released plans for its redevelopment of the 0.2ha site yesterday, with the new facility to be named the Marsh Study Centre - essentially a kind of library hub and cafe for students.
A press release from University of Otago Vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg said the centre would be named after the Marsh family, of Dunedin, and would help meet a need for "more study and social spaces" for students.
University property services director Bruce McKay said the cost of the planned redevelopment at the site was confidential.
The university plans to open the centre in time for the 2013 teaching year, he said, but his emailed statement did not say when the upgrade would begin, or whether planned building changes would require resource and building consents.
"The Marsh Study Centre will be no larger than the current structure. It will fit within the footprint of the current building," Mr MacKay said.
He said alcohol would not be served at the Marsh Study Centre.
The existing building on the property, with 800sq m of floor space, would be modified and ungraded to provide study spaces for up to 250 students, Prof Skegg said, with landscaping in the former garden bar to "provide attractive courtyard areas for study and relaxation".
Consultants had identified a need for student hubs, to alleviate pressure on existing university libraries, as part of a Campus Master Plan drawn up about two years ago.
The building will incorporate leading-edge technological capabilities, such as an audio-visual suite alongside self-learning and group-learning spaces, Prof Skegg added.
"This should be a really attractive venue for students living in the northern part of the city."
The university council was delighted the study centre would be named after Graeme and Eunice Marsh, who made a "substantial donation" to the project.
• Expressions of interest in Dunedin student pub The Captain Cook Tavern closed at 4pm yesterday. Its owners will consider the offers over the next week.
Guy Randall, from Cook Brothers Bars, described the offers as being "varied", and said the bar owners would need at least a week to consider them.
The bar has been advertised on line for $1 million or near offer.
