Student Residences Project
Consideration:
The Student Residences Project (SRP) formerly known as the Student Housing Project, was presented to the Committee on 10 June 2015. The SRP has developed
rapidly since the appointment of Wilson Architects Partners Hill (WAPH) on 1 June 2016 and remains consistent with the goals and objectives presented to the
Committee on 10 June 2015 and to Senate on 18 June 2015.
Subject to the Committee’s approval a specific public consultation process on SRP will commence on 11 November 2016 and will include the distribution of the
SRP Environmental Assessment Report. This is necessary in order to satisfy the conditions in the Certificate of Designation.
Brisbane City Council formally reviewed SRP in December 2015 and provided a written report under their “pre-lodgement” process. BCC were broadly supportive
of SRP, their only significant reservation was around the then proposal to build over Walcott Street. This proposal has been deleted.
Initial feedback from the local community has been reasonably supportive with the main concerns being focused on traffic and parking, which SRP should
mitigate.
The adjacent colleges (Grace, Cromwell & International House) have expressed concerns, which are highlighted at regular meetings with the SRP project team.
These Friends on the Hill (FrOTH) meetings will continue through the course of the project. The FrOTH meetings have already identified opportunities for mutual
benefit including the improvement of the linkages to the campus core and to St Lucia Village. The current intention is for these linkages to be pursued as campus
enhancement projects in parallel with SRP.
The SRP has proceeded under the close the direction of the SRP Project Control Group Chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and the SRP User Group Chaired by
the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.
The current capital cost estimate is well within the $251m loan agreement with Queensland Treasury Corporation, however, careful value management will
continue through the project.
The cost estimate for SRP has been compared with other projects and is consistent with high quality university owned accommodation such as University Hall,
UWA and Tietgen, Copenhagen. The estimated construction cost rate for SRP of $3,500 per m2 of Gross Floor Area (GFA) is in the same range as privately
owned student accommodation. The key difference is that the area per student can be as low as 25m2 GFA whereas SRP provides almost twice that reflecting
the University’s commitment to create an effective living and learning environment.
Description:
SRP consists of three new buildings (90 Parkland, 91 Arcade & 92 Quad). The original farmhouse, 91C Cairngorm House will be rehabilitated as part of SRP.
SRP will provide self-catered accommodation for 1300+ students in apartments, studio rooms and loft rooms with easy access to common space. The common
space will be themed to encourage interaction across SRP and to promote a sense of identity:
90 Parkland (416 beds via Studio Rooms) - Recreation & Functions
91 Arcade (360 beds via Apartments) - Retail and Student Activities
92 Quad (539 beds via Apartments & Lofts) - Learning and Administration
The SRP includes;
• 1306 student beds in a variety of configurations, predominately single rooms with ensuite bathrooms and communal kitchens in households of 10-12
students, self-contained studio rooms and lofts with ensuite bathroom and kitchenettes and a small number of 2 & 3 bedroom apartments in the Parkland
building;
• Three bedroom Principal’s Residences are discretely located at ground level, one in each new building collocated with a garage (totalling 9 beds);
• Shared common space including communal lounges and recreation areas;
• A variety of study spaces, from supported learning spaces, social learning spaces and multipurpose spaces.
• Receptions areas, stores and laundry facilities:
• Café, convenience store and occasional bar;
• Office areas and back of house facilities for the Operator;
• Space for 200 bicycles with stores within each building and 84 covered car parking spaces & 48 uncovered in the Parkland building;
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Potential modifications to Walcott Street and Hood Street (subject to BCC approval);
GFA is approximately 56,144m2 (excluding Basement)
The Arcade building has a maximum of 15 floors (measured from Rock St), The Quad building has a maximum of 10 habitable floors and the Parkland has
a maximum of 6 habitable floors.
Refurbishment of the existing Cairngorm for Student Common areas.
Value management reviews in September 2016 initiated significant design changes to SRP. WAPH have redesigned the 90 Parkland building to improve
efficiency and have deleted the proposed road between Coleridge and Walcott Street. Deletion of the flood prone and therefore expensive 2nd basement
under 90 Parkland has reduced the number of carparks from 215 to 130.
As there will be 1300 less students travelling to campus in 2020 there will be less overall demand for parking on campus. The car park under 90 Parkland
will operate under the overall UQ Parking Scheme on a user pays basis. The carpark to bed ratio within SRP of 1:10 is in line with precedents at other
universities.