New student hub builds campus life

The University of Adelaide is about to embark on a major new facility for students in the heart of its North Terrace Campus that will transform on-campus student life and learning.

The $34.5 million redevelopment of the central Hughes Plaza as a student learning hub, due for completion in March 2011, will reinvent students' on-campus experience, increase learning and recreational space and provide a 'front door' to services at the University.

The learning hub will be a multi-level, all-weather space where students can meet and undertake group study in flexible lounge areas, use free computer and other audio-visual facilities, and access a broad range of student services, while enjoying a coffee and a range of other food and beverages.

"This will be the largest and most dynamic student learning hub in Australia and, we believe, the envy of other universities across Australia," said the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"Other satellite learning hubs are likely to follow on our North Terrace, Waite and Roseworthy campuses. We've already opened a student hub in the Faculty of the Professions on Pulteney Street and it's proving highly successful.

"Hughes Plaza is the geographical heart of the campus, a logical intersection traversed by more than 50% of all campus pedestrians. The redevelopment will turn this rather barren area into a true hub which will provide more opportunity for social interaction on campus. It will integrate learning, social and recreational spaces with a 'front door' to student support services and library resources, food and beverage outlets and other services."

The development will incorporate technologies such as online learning, learning management systems and wireless networks with informal and collaborative study and recreational spaces. It brings together the leading thinking on educational space planning from around the world.

"We will be arranging focus groups and undertaking surveys with students to ensure we provide exactly what students want in this new facility," Professor McWha said.

"This is a significant development in the University's building program, which is seeing more than $400 million being invested in state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities on the North Terrace, Waite and Roseworthy campuses."

The development is part-funded by the Federal Government's Better Universities Renewal Funding initiative.

Olivia Jones and Robyn Mills