University plans for expansion
THE University of Otago may invest millions of dollars to further boost student accommodation levels as it prepares for a surge in enrolments.
Work has begun on developing a business case for an extension to Aquinas College in Dalmore.
Chief operating officer Stephen Willis said estimates suggested expanding the college by 60 beds would cost between $15 million and $18 million.
It currently caters for 156 students.
The project was in the early stages, and it was hoped a business case would be completed by the end of the year.
All going to plan, construction would start next year.
The proposed expansion is in addition to the $100 million Te Rangihiroa residential college project under construction on the corner of Albany and Forth Sts.
It is hoped students will be able to live there from 2023.
The 450bed college will include 125 bedrooms with en suites, a dining hall and kitchen, multifunctional communal spaces, offices, a reception, and college staff accommodation.
And, Mr Willis said, the university was also looking to convert some of its properties from academic spaces back to residential flats.
It was all to meet increasing demand for accommodation as student numbers continue to grow.
In March the Otago Daily Times reported Maori enrolment had increased more than an 8.4% and commencing Maori student enrolments had increased 13.7%.
A 1341 lift in domestic student enrolments had offset a decline of 389 in international fullfee enrolments.
While work was still under way on many capital development projects, the Covid19 lockdown had affected some, Mr Willis said.
Construction projects like Te Rangihiroa had to stop work under Level 4, and projects in the design phase could also be delayed if staff needed to physically examine buildings, Mr Willis said.
Even IT projects could be affected if things such as training could not happen during lockdown.
‘‘Also, when you’re in lockdown, depending on the project and what it’s focused on, you’ve got to pivot a lot of people and their attention away.’’
The level of risk for every project was assessed as much as possible, and allow for some contingency planning in terms of cost and timeframes, he said.
But Covid was unpredictable and no risk mitigation was available.
Meanwhile, a seismic assessment on the university’s Wellington campus was in the process of being peer reviewed.
The main academic building on campus was closed in August, after it was given a seismic rating of 15% under the new building standards.
Mr Willis said the peer review should be complete in about two weeks, and then the university would look at its next steps.