UTS City Campus Masterplan: a vision for our future campus

The plan to change the face of the UTS City campus announced during the university's 20th anniversary celebrations in 2008 is ready to be unveiled to the public, staff and students in an exhibition opening on Monday 19 January.

The City Campus Masterplan maps out an extensive program of expansion and reorganisation on the university's core sites, involving new buildings, significant refurbishments and innovative extensions to existing facilities, as well as a revitalised Alumni Green.

Adopted by the University Council in 2008, the masterplan is a blueprint that will help UTS remain at the forefront of teaching, learning, research and sustainability for its third decade and beyond.

Issues addressed by the plan include the fragmented nature of the existing campus; the need for upgraded teaching, learning and research facilities; and, expected growth in the number of students and staff in coming years.

The key objective is the creation of a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly campus environment that will attract students and visitors – among them local residents – for formal education as well as cultural, recreational and social pursuits.

The revitalised campus will become an integral part of Sydney's urban, cultural and social fabric.

Among the plan's major components are:

• New buildings: a nine-storey "gateway" building on Broadway adjacent to Building 10; a five-storey building facing Thomas St; and, a nine-storey building on the former Dairy Farmers site in Ultimo Road
• New student housing in a multi-storey block to be built over the rear of Building 6
• Extension of the Tower podium to create a new entry zone, improved Broadway street frontage and a "student commons" hub
• Refurbishment of existing buildings, including a major reconfiguration of Building 2 to house an "integrated learning commons" comprising a new library and associated study spaces
• The rejuvenation of Alumni Green, including the construction of a multi-purpose hall under its northern end
• New intra-campus pedestrian networks, including the proposed closure of Jones St to create a pedestrian thoroughfare

New student facilities such as a food court and multi-purpose sports hall are being considered along with facilities which would also be open to the community, such as a new art gallery, cinema and cafes.

All new facilities will be implemented on a project-by-project basis, with initial construction expected to start around mid 2009. The full plan will take a number of years to implement.

Where appropriate, the university will consult staff and student user groups on the design of individual buildings and significant refurbishments. This will ensure that the new facilities meet their teaching, learning and workplace requirements.

The plan will be on display in the exhibition space in the Broadway level foyer of the UTS Tower from 19 January until 16 March.