University of Wollongong in Australia plans new sciences laboratory facility

University of Wollongong (UOW) in New South Wales, Australia, has unveiled plans for a new $33m sciences laboratory facility.

The three-level, 6,100m² facility will be constructed in airspace over the existing Ovals P7 Carpark, near the SMART infrastructure facility, and will be connected to the sciences building.

Upon completion, the facility will feature chemistry, biological sciences and earth and environmental teaching laboratories to be used for science, health and behavioural and engineering students.

The top floor of the facility will feature research laboratories, which the university claims will increase its higher degree research student focus.

Construction of the facility is anticipated to commence in November 2013 and be completed by December 2014.

In 2012, the university announced the $44m Early Start inter-disciplinary project to be based in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Early Start will be built at the western end of the Wollongong campus and will feature specialist teaching and research spaces and a children’s discovery centre.

The discovery centre will feature over 2,000m² of activity/exhibit space, outdoor exploration courtyards and discovery galleries supported by administrative and technical facilities.

The children’s discovery centre is anticipated to attract 120,000 children and their families from across Australia per year.

UOW said that after completion, the entire facility will be the hub for Early Start Engagement Centres.

Scheduled to open in early 2015, the overall facility will feature a three-level building with a floor area of 9,300m².

Funding for the Early Start project includes $31m from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund, a $7m private donation from Christopher Abbott and $6m from UOW.

The projects are part of University’s $220m capital expenditure projects over the next five years, including the Early Start project and sciences laboratory facility.

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Image: After completion, the new three-level, 6,100m² sciences facility will feature various laboratories. Photo: University of Wollongong.