A development application has been lodged with Bathurst Regional Council for an $8.3 million makeover of existing administration buildings on the local campus of Charles Sturt University.
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The refurbished buildings will become the home of the new engineering course being offered from the start of 2016.
Joss Constructions won the tender to carry out the work in a project that has a hefty budget. The aim is to redevelop existing buildings into what the university describes as a modern, practical facility for innovative learning and teaching in the engineering and business sectors.
According to the statement of environmental effects lodged with council, the project will see a massive transformation of the existing administration building and “farmhouse” at Village Road at CSU.
The detail of the project includes refurbishment of the existing ground floor to include a student study space, meeting rooms and labs; additional 107 square metres of ground floor area at the tip of the southern wing of the ground floor for a new lab; addition of a mezzanine level to facilitate an open plan office and meeting rooms for staff; landscaping; minor additions and amendments to existing access and road infrastructure; and refurbishment of the existing farmhouse and addition of a meeting room.
The proposed refurbishment will be characterised by a combination of contemporary materials including clear glazing, steel frames, brick and Colorbond steel walls and roof.
CSU anticipates that at any one time there will be a maximum of 20 staff and 100 students using the facility.
According to CSU’s Foundation Professor of Engineering Euan Lindsay, the uniqueness of the facility and course delivery will combine to produce graduates who will have a competitive edge in the corporate world.
“We’re aiming to produce highly-skilled, entrepreneurial engineers who are equipped to step straight into industry or start their own businesses – we want to produce engineers who can change the world,” Professor Lindsay said.
The design will incorporate the latest technologies, encourage teamwork and provide facilities for students to showcase construction creativity in project spaces, workshops and a gallery.
There will also be a ‘pitch zone’ for students to hone their entrepreneurial skills.
CSU will offer a Bachelor of Technology and Master of Engineering (Civil Systems) from 2016.
The course is a unique mix of undergraduate and postgraduate study with industry experience.
