Ara’s $2m expansion set for 2024 opening
Work is expected to start on a $2 million engineering workshop at the Ara Institute of Canterbury Timaru campus in 2023, 12 months later than first thought.
The planning and budget for the project, to be built on the corner of Theodosia (State Highway 1) and North streets is complete, with Ara ‘‘pressing go on plans to construct a new workspace at its southern campus’’ of approximately 700m2 ‘‘with a modern build befitting the highprofile site’’.
The build was announced by Ara in November, 2021, with work expected to have been completed in time for the start of the 2023 academic year. However, the project is now expected to be complete by the end of 2023.
Ara general manager Darren Mitchell said the project had been delayed as the original time frames were estimates in 2019.
‘‘Since then, we have been working through a process, challenged by the context of the global pandemic, to gather information that would inform design requirements, practicalities of different construction options, and likely costs, to ensure the best outcome for the final building,’’ he said.
It will be located in what is known as the Trade Hub on the campus.
Mitchell said the procurement process of the project had also been undertaken and Ara was pleased to show its commitment to the South Canterbury industry by engaging Timaru-based builders and architects.
‘‘The concept and design work is now complete, and we are comfortable with the budget.
‘‘Detailed designs should be ready to be submitted to the Timaru District Council for consent early next year, and it’s hoped construction can begin in the second quarter of next year,’’ Mitchell said.