Vet school upgrades on schedule
Missing out on a slice of the Government’s shovel-ready fund has not slowed the redevelopment of Massey University’s veterinary facilities.
The university is doing the first major rebuild of the vet school since it was founded in the 1960s and is worth $165 million. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2024.
The first stage is done and Massey had requested government assistant to avoid delays after the Covid-19 lockdown last year.
But the application wasn’t successful and Massey wasn’t able to accelerate construction as it had hoped. Despite missing out on the funding, Massey was still able to keep to the original schedule, a university media spokeswoman said.
‘‘The first of our new facilities in this phase of work, our new pathology suite, is now complete,’’ she said. ‘‘We are also making excellent progress on our new farm animal hospital and teaching laboratories.
‘‘At this stage we anticipate these to be ready for the start of 2022.’’
The completed stage one included the new vet science building, Wild base Hospital, the equine hospital and production animal isolation unit, and redevelopment of the large animal teaching unit, companion animal intensive care unit and sterile supply.
Work on stage three is meant to start next year, and it includes a new multi-purpose teaching lab, faculty research labs and offices and a student amenities centre.
Stage four includes renovations.
Massey’s vet tower is earthquake-prone and will be replaced, and staff have been progressively moved out of the building in the past two years.
The university spokeswoman said most staff and activities had now been moved out of the tower and Massey was continuing to transfer activities this year.
Massey’s vet school is the only one in the country and is ranked 19th in the world.