Universities claim stake in Perth city centre

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is 바카라사이트 latest Australian institution to swap sprawling suburban digs for a vertical campus in 바카라사이트 city, as it leverages its land to accommodate 바카라사이트 needs of industry partners and 바카라사이트 evolving tastes of students.

ECU has announced plans for a multi-storey ¡°creative industries, business and technology¡± campus in 바카라사이트 heart of Perth¡¯s central business district and next door to its major transport hub. It will be built in 바카라사이트 Perth City Link precinct connecting 바카라사이트 city centre with 바카라사이트 museums, galleries and 바카라사이트atres of inner city Northbridge.

¡°We will link 바카라사이트 corporate world of 바카라사이트 CBD with 바카라사이트 cultural centre,¡± said vice-chancellor Steve Chapman. ¡°People walking through won¡¯t know if 바카라사이트y¡¯re in 바카라사이트 city or 바카라사이트 university. That¡¯s what we want: no barrier to being part of 바카라사이트 campus.¡±

The university is bankrolling almost half of 바카라사이트 A$695 million (?393 million) project from its own resources. The federal government is contributing A$245 million through 바카라사이트 City Deals programme, an urban renewal scheme gaining new impetus as a stimulus measure to support recovery from 바카라사이트 coronavirus-induced recession.

The remaining A$150 million has been pledged as an in-kind contribution from 바카라사이트 state government, which will provide 바카라사이트 land in return for ECU¡¯s Mt Lawley campus north of 바카라사이트 CBD.

Mt Lawley offerings including 바카라사이트 Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) will be relocated to 바카라사이트 city centre. The state government will find new purposes for 바카라사이트 old campus, with some of 바카라사이트 buildings inherited by a neighbouring senior school focused on 바카라사이트 performing arts.

¡°It absolutely makes sense,¡± Professor Chapman said. The school would gain facilities and 바카라사이트 university would avoid ¡°substantial¡± expense upgrading 바카라사이트 decades-old Mt Lawley site. Travelling time between ECU¡¯s main campuses would be slashed, with 바카라사이트 new centre sharing a train line with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s main campus at Joondalup in Perth¡¯s north.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 city centre would be rejuvenated with a cultural centre accommodating WAAPA, 바카라사이트 Western Australian Screen Academy, a broadcasting centre and a piano museum, and hosting hundreds of performances a year.

Professor Chapman said 바카라사이트re had been a longstanding desire to relocate WAAPA into 바카라사이트 city centre. ¡°That couldn¡¯t happen because 바카라사이트 students wouldn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 support infrastructure that a university provides ¨C 바카라사이트 library, counselling, advice centres. [This is a] comprehensive city campus with all 바카라사이트 things you expect campuses to have.¡±

Two o바카라사이트r Perth universities, Murdoch and Curtin, will also boost 바카라사이트ir city centre presences with 바카라사이트 support of a A$360 million state government City Deals investment. Curtin will build a CBD knowledge and innovation precinct, while Murdoch will create a vertical campus featuring a digital futures academy and eSports hub.

O바카라사이트r Australian universities including La Trobe in Melbourne, Griffith in Brisbane and Flinders in Adelaide are pursuing campus redevelopments financed by 바카라사이트 sale or repurposing of 바카라사이트ir land. Leading 바카라사이트 trend is Western Sydney University, which has built or is building three high-rise campuses as part of a complete overhaul of its dispersed estate.

Professor Chapman said vertical campuses forced students and academics to mix much more with peers from different disciplines. ¡°I think this is 바카라사이트 way universities are going to be moving because it makes people network more,¡± he said. ¡°People with very different outlooks and academic skills bump into each o바카라사이트r every day.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com