THE University of Newcastle’s futuristic NeW Space building will open its doors to staff on Monday, two years after construction began on what is already one of the most eye-catching landmarks on the city’s skyline.
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UON chief operating officer Nat McGregor said the $95-million, eight-storey structure had been a conversation starter since its inception.
“From the time we released the design people were talking about it,” Mr McGregor said from the light-filled top floor, which has expansive 360 degree vistas across the city.
“Some said ‘My God it’s the most ugly thing I’ve ever seen’, through to ‘Wow that’s a fantastic statement for the city and this is really starting to speak to what the city’s future is’.
“We’re happy to have that diversity of views and it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
“But what we’ve seen over the last two years as the building has taken shape is that much more of the sentiment is with how fantastic this is for the city and what a great statement and great landmark this is.
“We think it’s got a lot of flexibility about it and one of the design briefs was how do we make it as future proof as we can.”
The ostensible penthouse of the structure, its eighth level, features a boardroom, executive offices and teaching space.
The library is on the first floor, moot court is on the seventh floor and several flexible and collaborative teaching and learning spaces are scattered throughout the building.
Each floor is arranged for students and staff to work side by side.
There are roughly 1600 pieces of glass woven into the gleaming shell, excluding the street front and internal glazing, capitalising on the building’s height for show-stopping views.
“We wanted the building to be very transparent, so putting our work on show, and to let the community and business see what goes on inside a university as well as us being able to see out into the community.”
Mr McGregor said 320 staff from the Faculty of Business and Law and the new School of Creative Industries would work from the 14,000 square metre building from Monday.
The building will open to the public from July 17.
Up to 3000 students will study at NeW Space from the July 24 start of semester two.
“The views are pretty special and I think on a nice day we will see some students gazing out there and taking in the views … but we hope that doesn't mean they’re not concentrating on what they’re doing,” he said.
Mr McGregor said the building was also expected to be a drawcard for new students.
“Domestic and international students want to study in an environment like this, which is vibrant, which is active, which is in a city environment,” he said.
“We didn’t put a target on the building, that it had to have a return on investment for example, but we do think we’re naturally going to see some growth and interest that wouldn't otherwise happen if we didn’t have the facility.”
Lyon and EJE Architecture unveiled the NeW Space design in March 2014 and Hansen Yuncken started construction in June 2015.
Guests to the ground floor “gathering space” can look to the roof to see one of two eaglehawks - a key protective totem of the Awabakal people - made from 250,000 perforations, each with a wing span in excess of 25 metres.
NeW Space also features six distinctive double storey “urban rooms” that jut out from the mega truss on three sides and provide views over Auckland Street; to Christie Place; to Honeysuckle and the harbour; to Nobbys Headland; to Civic Park; and to the Hunter River.
Staff and students have been encouraged to either use public transport, ride bikes, catch a shuttle bus from Callaghan campus or use ride sharing app Liftango to get to NeW Space.