Progressing the development of the University of Otago’s world-class, research-intensive campus in Christchurch
A healthy ambition
The University of Otago’s Christchurch (UOC) campus hosts world class research groups and postgraduate health science students. The University has committed to redeveloping the campus with construction of a new 17,000sqm building to house the majority of its health research activity, followed by redevelopment of its existing main building to house most of its health education activities.
We have been working with the University on its UOC project since early 2017. To date our team has assisted with the development of the project brief, overseen alternative feasibility studies, delivered concept and preliminary designs, and supported business case approvals. We will continue to support the University as Project Managers through to project completion.
Applying expertise
The UOC project is the largest ever undertaken by the University, and accommodates a number of highly specialist functions as well as multiple external strategic partners. We are applying hard earned knowledge from previous projects to apply a robust stakeholder management process that will bring users on the journey and ensure facilities are fit for purpose. Well-coordinated and documented design is key to our approach, so that this highly complicated building, on a challenging site, can be delivered as smoothly as possible in a challenging contracting market.
Points of interest
- The project has required design for a range of specialist spaces, including a modern science laboratory, research, imaging, clinical and office facilities.
- We have consulted extensively with users to understand their needs and work with them to shape the project, knowing that part of the job is managing the significant organisational cultural change associated with workplace modernisation.
- External stakeholder management has also been extensive and included strategic partners, the local runanga, Otakaro, Environment Canterbury, the Christchurch City Council and more.
