Monday 21 September 2015 12:27pm
An artist's impression of the to-be-redeveloped Chemistry building. Image: Parker Warburton Team Architects.
Construction will begin at the end of this month on a major $56M redevelopment of the University of Otago’s Chemistry building.
Property Services Director Barry MacKay says Leighs Construction of Christchurch has been chosen as the lead contractor, and this will also involve Dunedin builders and sub-contractors.
“Leighs has excellent experience in recent construction projects, particularly during the Christchurch re-build. These include many large retail, education and Government buildings in Christchurch,” Mr MacKay says.
"Leighs has excellent experience in recent construction projects, particularly during the Christchurch re-build."
The University Council has approved a budget of $56M for the project, which was announced in April. It involves revamping the 45-year-old Chemistry building on the Dunedin campus, including a new exterior design with new windows, a new roof and recladding.
The 6500 square metres of mostly science laboratories used for first-year science students will be remodelled and refurbished to high scientific standards, housing a “super-lab” on the ground floor to be used for the different science disciplines, with more PC1 and PC2 labs, and improved air-flow and ventilation in all areas.
The ground floor link between Science I and the adjoining Science II building will also be reconfigured into a new link with this building.
Mr MacKay says in anticipation of the work beginning, one group of staff, Human Nutrition, has already moved out of the building and into a large temporary on-site laboratory that has been placed nearby. This is also to be used for teaching while construction takes place.
Other departments more immediately affected will decant as required between now and the end of January 2016.
The project is scheduled to be completed by early 2018.
