SYDNEY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

Author: Dani Cooper
Publication: AUS (p27, 03-12-2003)
Section: Features
Keywords: "University of Sydney (2)"

THE University of Sydney drew inspiration from the Labor Party's election of Mark Latham yesterday as it launched its own generational change. Plans for an on-campus law school ($85 million), a new student services building ($50 million) and an upgrade of public spaces ($15 million) were released yesterday after an international competition.

The three capital works projects -- due to start early next year with completion expected by 2007 -- mark the start of a $480million, 10-year redevelopment. Included in the ambitious program are new centres for medical and scientific research; a $43million school of information technology -- already at the tendering stage; development of rural clinical school facilities for the faculty of medicine at Dubbo, Orange and Lismore campuses; and an upgrade of arts and psychology facilities.

Competition jury chairman and NSW government architect Chris Johnson said more than 120 expressions of interest were offered by architectural and design firms across the globe.

However, Australian companies scooped the pool, with Danish landscape architect Jeppe Aagaard Andersen, joint winner in the public domain section, the only successful foreigner.

Professor Johnson said the university had reached a "critical point in its history, in particular its built history". "These projects represent a generational change in the relationship of the university back to society," he said. "This generational change comes at the same time the Labor Party is going through generational change. "

Vice-chancellor Gavin Brown's eyes yesterday were also on Canberra, in particular the Senate debate on the higher education bill. He said the amount the university would need to borrow or raise to fund the plans was dependent on "how things pan out with higher education reforms".

The University of Sydney has indicated it would raise HECS fees by the full allowable amount -- 30 per cent under the present proposals.

Professor Brown said he was not fazed by the prospect of students helping fund improvements to the campus. "We do want the opportunity to recoup some of the costs from the people who will benefit," he added.
Professor Brown said the university had recently received an AA-plus rating by credit agency Standard & Poor's. "We are in a strong position to be borrowing," he said, refusing to be drawn on exactly how much the university would have to borrow. "Clearly we would like to juggle cash flow and only use borrowings when our hand is forced. "
Professor Brown said the university would also launch a fundraising drive, particularly in connection with the law school, adding there would be "all sorts of opportunities for people to secure themselves commemorative plaques".

LINKS

www.usyd.edu.au/campus2010

The winners are:

Faculty of Law Building: FJMT Architects (Sydney).

Previous projects include New Parliament House in Canberra; the Scientia, University of NSW; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.

Student Services Building: John Wardle with GHD (Melbourne).

Previous projects include redevelopment of city west campus at University of South Australia, RMIT biosciences building, Bundoora campus and north court at the University of Melbourne.

Public Domain: Jeppe Aagaard Andersen (Denmark) with Tinka Sack (Perth) and Taylor Cullity Lethlean (Melbourne).

Aagaard Andersen was responsible for the harbour conversion in front of the royal palaces in Copenhagen.

Other projects for Taylor Cullity Lethlean include the gardens at Centennial Park, Sydney, and the Australian garden for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

© News Limited, 2003

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