Opening up this area and integrating more seems like a great idea. I don’t know the area well, but did have a walk through the university grounds a couple of weeks ago. I’m hoping this plan also makes it less of a maze, it was very hard to navigate - Google Maps just shrugged and said “dunno” when I asked how to get home.
Edit: I don’t know how to find a non-paywalled link, I just open in an incognito tab
It was always a struggle to get a free room there, so I am a little concerned about the reduction in teaching space.
UniMelb also loves demolishing buildings just before they become heritage listed, to avoid them becoming listed. As was the case with the John Smyth Building.
Yeah exactly. And it’s not like the buildings they want to demolish are abandoned or little used. Old Microbiology is full of lab/office spaces and Brownless is one of the main hubs of the biomed and science cohorts. I’ve had classes in some of the other buildings as well and they are also frequently used.
Sure it might open up the uni but how will they compensate for the reduction in useable space?
They are planning to upgrade/convert the current union house building into a mega science hub building so a lot of the lost lab space will move into there eventually.