Topics to be regularly covered in the newsletter include relocation arrangements, timeframes, arrangements for students and staff, consultation opportunities and other relevant issues.

Laboratory upgrades

S Block and O Block will undergo a significant refurbishment from the end of this semester. The work will include the renovation and upgrade of levels 3 and 4 in S Block to improve teaching space and create a new computing zone on level 5.

Level 6 will include student learning spaces, Student Services for BEE, previously in L block, and other BEE functions. Levels 7 and 8 will provide space for the School of Urban Development which will move out of L block in April next year.

Changes are also planned for O Block, with new workshops and practical teaching areas being built in the basement and levels 1 and 2.

These will consolidate existing labs in O block and those from L Block and P Block into a new and innovative space for practical learning and research. An off-site facility is also being explored to accommodate some research activities.

Consultation

The university is keen to ensure consultation with staff and students continues throughout the redevelopment project.

Gary Rasmussen is the communications project manager and can be contacted by email with any queries.

Staff and students can also use the AskQUT website to give feedback or raise concerns and issues.

$25M gift to Precinct

The Science and Technology Precinct has received a $25 million gift toward its construction from The Atlantic Philanthropies - a United States-based charitable organisation.The gift, announced in July, completed QUT's campaign to raise $200 million for the Precinct.

It followed $35 million in funding from the Queensland Government's Innovation Building Fund, a $75 million infrastructure grant awarded by the Commonwealth Government, and $65 million committed by QUT.

The gift was given to QUT by Mr Charles (Chuck) F. Feeney, Founding Chairman of The Atlantic Philanthropies, pictured.

Early works

Gardens Point campus will start to look different over the next few months as scaffolding, trucks and other equipment move in for preliminary works. Access to some buildings and areas may be affected, but the university is mindful of keeping disruptions to a minimum and will make sure that affected staff and students are notified of the changes.

Below is a diagram showing the wide range of buildings on Gardens Point campus that will be affected in various ways during construction of the Precinct from now in 2009 to completion in 2012:

Green initiatives

The Science and Technology Precinct will be a 5-star Green Star building, which will make it one of the highest rated "green" buildings in the Brisbane CBD. A project sustainability group has been established to oversee the design and ensure the precinct not only achieves the 5-star rating but that it also represents high quality sustainable architecture.

The QUT community has already provided input in this area and more feedback is welcome from staff and students with innovative ideas that could be put to use. Please contact the communications project manager, Gary Rasmussen, on g.rasmussen@qut.edu.au.

On the move

The relocation of around 350 people to make way for the development is continuing across campus. The Faculty of Science and Technology student centre is now in O Block Podium as is the faculty office and School of IT staff.

Other Faculty of Science and Technology people from S block have moved to 126 Margaret Street. Most of International and Development has moved to A Block with the remainder moving in September.

Some staff and students from S and O blocks will relocate during renovations.