AUT - Frequently asked questions: WG learning precinct

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Frequently asked questions: WG learning precinct

Why is AUT University upgrading the City Campus?

  • AUT University has an obligation to the future of New Zealand’s economic growth to stay at the forefront of scholarship and teaching. In order to do this, we need to provide contemporary and innovative facilities in which our students and staff can learn and teach.
  • The new WG precinct will house the latest learning and teaching environments and digital technologies. It will enhance academic excellence, and demonstrate AUT’s innovative, creative, technological and contemporary approach to teaching and research.
  • The WG precinct will be a significant addition to the city centre campus, enhancing the Auckland city landscape and adding value to the central city property.
  • The new media centre will bring all the communication studies programmes together under one roof - including advertising, digital media, journalism, public relations, radio and television.

How long have you been planning this precinct?

In 2002, a case was presented to Council to develop the Wellesley (now City) Campus. This included the WG precinct. Architectural plans began being drawn in 2008, and construction on the site started in November 2010.

How much is the development costing?

Approximately $100 million dollars.

Where is the funding for this project coming from?

AUT University will fund the WG precinct partly from borrowings and partly from its operational budget. This is a familiar process for the University, having funded over $300 million of new developments since 1995, with an average mortgage of $40 million in any one year.

What was previously on the site?

Two AUT buildings – WJ and WK provided studios and engineering workshops. Both had become dated and were of no historic value.

What permission was needed to demolish the previous buildings?

Approval from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Auckland Council.

Why build rather than re-configure existing capacity?

  • AUT has insufficient building stock. It currently leases over 25,000 square metres of buildings in the CBD for use by students and staff. The facilities of WJ and WK were no longer up to the standard required of a modern university, and could not be reconfigured.
  • AUT has been the fastest growing university in recent years, and can expect demand to increase as Auckland grows.

How was the design of the WG precinct selected?

The precinct was designed by Jasmax, following an extensive collaborative process with AUT. The scope was for an integrated development, linking existing facilities that would transform the City Campus into a unified complex.

Who is building this precinct?

There are many teams involved in the development of the WG precinct, including:

  • Main Contractor - Fletcher Construction Company
  • Engineering - Beca
  • Quantity Surveyors - Rider Levett Bucknall
  • Project Managers - Hargrave Group
  • Data/Communications -  Division 27
  • Acoustic Engineers - Marshall Day

Is there support of this precinct at central government level?

Yes, the TEC is fully supportive of this new development.

What consultation processes have you employed with local government and key stakeholders?

  • Active engagement between AUT, Auckland Council and the University of Auckland through the development of the ‘Learning Quarter’ – an Auckland Council initiative to define the educational sector of the Auckland CBD.

  • AUT has attended focus group meetings with residents and businesses within the Learning Quarter Precinct.

  • Through a range of forums, AUT has achieved the support from Auckland Council to affect a partial closure of Governor Fitzroy Place.

  • There has been, and continues to be, considerable consultation with staff and stakeholders of AUT University.

Is the precinct sustainable?

Yes. WG has been designed with sustainability in mind, with the use of natural ventilation, natural daylight and low-energy lighting, sustainably-harvested timber and long-life and low VOC emission materials.

How much disruption and construction noise should I expect?

  • Some noise and disruption is inevitable throughout this development. However every effort is being made to minimise this.
  • Occupants of neighbouring buildings will be informed of forthcoming project work, especially where a high level of noise is expected.
  • The majority of noisy work has been scheduled to take place during semester breaks, and will cease during exam weeks.

How long will it take to build? When will it open?

Construction is due to be completed by mid-November 2012 and the WG precinct will be operational from Semester 1, 2013.

What will be inside the precinct?

  • A 12-floor tower, glass-roofed atrium, lecture theatre building, plaza and a green quad.
  • Brand new lecture theatres - including the University's largest (seating up to 380 students) and a glass-walled theatre for up to 150 students.
  • Flexible blended classrooms and collaborative social study areas, each with a range of furniture types to cater for multiple ways of learning.
  • A 67.5% increase in social gathering spaces - including a student kitchen and café, forum space and lobby areas, exhibition space and a green quad.
  • One of the most advanced and contemporary communications schools in the country, bringing together a screen and television studio, motion capture and chroma key studio, performance studio, radio station, sound studios, edit suites, and digital media computer labs.
  • Function areas for use by wider Auckland audiences.
  • High-efficiency heating and air-conditioning, low-energy lighting and long-life materials also contribute to the visionary design and function of the buildings.
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout

What will the WG precinct look like?

  • The design of the WG precinct is visionary, reflecting the very latest in teaching and learning spaces – going beyond traditional lecture theatres and classrooms.
  • It provides the types of spaces needed to enhance and optimise the way people learn today, ensuring more flexible and adaptable spaces to encourage exchange and interaction, collaboration and convergence.
  • The link between space, technology and teaching and learning has been carefully considered in the design and choice of technology.

Who will be able to use the WG precinct?

  • AUT students and staff from all disciplines will be able to make use of the space.
  • General teaching spaces including classrooms, computer labs and lecture theatres will be utilised by the wider University community.
  • Specialist teaching spaces will be provided for the School of Communication Studies, while a studio floor will accommodate the Bachelor of Creative Technologies.
  • The general public and local businesses will also have access to a number of function and social areas.

For more information

Media enquiries

Emily Davies, Communications Manager on 09 921 9247 or 021 243 1672  or email emily.davies@aut.ac.nz

All other queries

Suzanne Webb, Director of Asset Development at AUT on 09 921 9783 or 021980550 or email Suzanne.webb@aut.ac.nz 

Last updated: 17 Nov 2011 8:45am

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