First major building project on UQ Gatton campus in almost a decade

The University of Queensland School of Natural and Rural Systems Management (NRSM) is to have a new home at the UQ Gatton campus. The building will be the first major construction project on the campus since 1993.

The $5 million construction forms part of the $13 million investment in capital works provided as a result of a recent Gatton campus review.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ted Brown said that the commitment from the University was another vote of confidence in the Gatton campus.

"This is a significant addition to the campus and will house some important centres as well as providing an extension to the School's facilities," he said.

"The Rural Extension Centre is the result of a highly successful collaboration between the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and The University of Queensland and we look forward to providing a new location for the Centre.

"The Gatton building will also contain the exciting new Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation."

The Head of the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, Associate Professor Bob Beeton said the building heralded a new stage of development for Gatton campus with a departure from traditional building styles. Modern curved features and the extra height of the new NRSM wing would augment the existing square constructions.

The differentiation is designed to invigorate the building's central location and help reinforce the notion of a campus heart.

The internal spaces of the building are designed with meeting and interaction areas centrally located and individual's offices around the outside.

"People using the building will move through the central areas encouraging an interactive and collaborative environment," Associate Professor Beeton said.

Tenders for the project closed on July 27, 2000 and the building is due for completion in February 2001.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Robert Beeton (telephone 3365 0322) or Jan King at UQ Communications (telephone 3365 1120).