FAQ's
1. What type of common facilities are you incorporating into the design?
The common facilities will appeal to all residents and regardless of which building a person lives, the ground floor facilities will be accessible to all campus residents. The planned facilities include games rooms, quiet study rooms, communal dining, BBQ facilities, music rooms, and an e-library.
The accommodation and common facilities will become part of the overall residential precinct. The intention is to create a vibrant, healthy environment for all residents across the residential precinct.
2. How many beds will there be in each apartment?
The design includes a range of apartment sizes - studios, one, two, five, and six bedroom layouts. The layouts maximise the use of space and include accessible apartments.
The range of accommodation and the mix of apartment layouts reflect the diversity of residents. The variety of options supports the University's commitment to accessibility, diversity, and equity.
3. Will each apartment have a balcony?
Five and six bedroom apartments will have balconies. In addition, we will provide a balcony to the common area of the upper residential floors for use by all residents. The design balances social amenity with the safety considerations.
4. Will there be bike storage?
Yes. The University is committed to encouraging and supporting the use of bicycles and has therefore provided storage facilities for residents and visitors.
5. Who did the University consult with to develop the design?
The University consulted with staff, students, student accommodation experts, and other universities.
6. What are the design objectives?
After consulting with experts and stakeholders, the University developed a clear idea of what it was seeking from the design. The two most dominate principles behind the design were providing a healthy, vibrant, safe, secure residential experience and orienting the design towards the unique bushland setting. Other objectives;
• create a memorable student experience
• deliver comfort and amenity
• create an integrated student residential precinct
• promote and respect the bushland campus
• establish easy access and way finding
• provide facilities to create a sense of identity and belonging
• create a secure and safe environment
• optimise sustainability in the design, construction, and operation of the facilities
7. Is the University planning to provide state-of-the-art accommodation?
The accommodation will be contemporary, modern, and affordable. It embodies sustainable design principles, industry standards for student accommodation, and responds to the needs of residents.
8. How are you protecting the bushland setting?
Maintaining the bushland setting is one of the key design objectives. The design promotes the bushland character of the campus and provides a balance between gathering spaces, transition spaces, and quiet, contemplative spaces.
The design went through an evolution of several plans; each new plan reduced the development footprint further and increased the open space available for residents.
The University understands the bushland setting is a priority for residents, students, and staff and is committed to protecting and promoting it.
The building design considered the location of the significant trees and the watercourse corridor to optimise the orientation.
9. Will you be removing trees?
Yes, we will be removing some trees; however, we will be maintaining significant trees and replacing trees in accordance with the Newcastle City Council tree replacement guidelines.
10. Why do the buildings have so many floors? Couldn't the University build three level buildings like the existing accommodation?
A multi-storey design optimises the use of the site, preserves the bushland setting, reduces the building footprint, and maximises open space. The buildings match the height of the tallest existing trees. The University has limited land available for development so the multi-story design is an efficient use of land.
11. What are you planning for the landscape of the site?
The landscape design employed the following principles:
• highlight the bushland landscape as the dominant and unifying element
• minimise the footprint of each building
• maximise separation between buildings
• protect significant trees
• improve bushland penetration into the site
• minimise tree removal in accordance with Newcastle City Council requirements
• upgrade pedestrian and cycle share ways to Edwards Hall
• maximise appreciation and separation of riparian zone
• provide outdoor social spaces including seating areas and barbeques
12. Will you provide laundry facilities?
Yes, we will provide laundry and secure drying facilities on the ground floor of each building.
13. How much parking is the University providing?
Car parking provisions have been calculated in accordance with The City of Newcastle, Development Control Plan 2005.
The University is building a 400-space car park in conjunction with the student accommodation. We are also providing accessible and additional parking around the new buildings. We will provide short-term/drop off zones at building entrances for dropping off groceries and moving in and out.
14. What rent will the University charge for a room in the new accommodation?
The University has not determined the rates yet.
15. Will there be recycling facilities?
Recycling facilities will be located on the ground floor of each building.
16. How will you manage waste in the new accommodation?
Waste storage facilities will be located on the ground floor of each building.
Residents will be expected to manage the waste from their apartments and participate in the recycling principles of the University.
17. Will the apartments be air-conditioned?
The common facilities on the ground floor will be air-conditioned, while the apartments and common areas on residential floors will utilise passive air conditioning through ceiling fans, breezeways allowing cross ventilation, and sun shading and weather protection.
The design provides heating through water-filled radiators or convectors, the buildings will have highly insulated roofs, and the living areas will all access winter sun.
18. What measures are you taking for the efficient use of energy and water?
The designers and University staff incorporated industry best practice with minimum ecological impact on the environment. The key principles include:
• cross ventilation
• creation of breezeways
• winter sun access to all living areas
• natural ventilation and day lighting for the majority of bathrooms
• bike storage
• sun shading and weather protection
• retaining and replacing trees to provide shade to courtyards and buildings
• insulated roofs
• hot water provided by solar hot water systems that use renewable solar energy to offset greenhouse gas emissions
• options for active heating and cooling using less CO2 intensive methods that are more cost effective
19. Will there be storage space for personal belongings?
Each bedroom will have a wardrobe and special attention is being giving to providing sufficient food storage in the kitchens.
20. Will there be wireless internet in all apartments?
Bedrooms will have cable internet connected to the University Internet system. Wireless access to the same system will be available in all common areas.
21. What type of furnishings will the apartments contain?
The bedrooms will have desks, beds, wardrobes, chairs, and appropriate shelf storage. The apartment common areas will have kitchen and lounge furniture for the number of residents in the apartment.
22. When will the apartments be available for occupancy?
The plan is to have the new accommodation available by first semester 2014.
23. Is there a swimming pool in the new development like at International House and Edwards Hall?
No, there will not be a swimming pool. The University anticipates that residents of the new accommodation will have equal access to the two current pools in the existing accommodation.
24. Is there any family or couple accommodation in the buildings?
There is no specifically designed family accommodation, however, we do anticipate that a number of couples will take advantage of the accommodation in the new buildings. The University is looking at alternative opportunities on the campus for providing family accommodation.
25. Will there be accessible rooms in the new accommodation?
Yes, there will be 24 accessible rooms available in all layout designs and on different levels of the buildings in accordance with disability guidelines.
26. What will happen to the Rugby Club, Cricket Club, and the Squash Pavilion?
These facilities are not part of the new student accommodation and will remain untouched. Access to the facilities may be affected during construction. The Project Team will consult with stakeholders regarding the Construction Management Plan.
27. Will the University be removing the existing tennis courts?
Yes, we will remove the tennis courts. Initially, the University will relocate two courts to the rear of The Forum however to cater for University club events and tournaments which require more than 2 courts in the same complex to operate successfully, the University will work with NUsport and secure courts at outside facilities such as District Park to ensure that these events can still go ahead. The number of courts will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to determine whether usage requires an increase in the number of courts available.
28. When will the existing tennis courts be unavailable?
The existing tennis courts will be unavailable from early July 2012 when the site for construction of the new student accommodation is being prepared.
29. When will the new tennis courts be available?
The intention is to have the two new tennis courts available by the end of 2012.
30. Has the development application for the new student accommodation been approved?
Newcastle City Council assessed the development application and submitted its report to the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP). On 1 March 2012 the JRPP approved the development application.
31. When will the university appoint a Principal Contractor?
The tender was released on 31 March 2012. The University expects to award the contract by early July 2012
