Story: Jo Harrison
A new 200-bed college and the replacement of outdated and tired accommodation at Robb College, with new architect designed, purpose-built facilities is the first step in UNE’s major redevelopment of its colleges.
Work is expected to start on the new college in early 2013, with the partnership tender to manage the project awarded to experienced student accommodation provider UniLodge, which was announced last month. The new college and the Robb rebuild are designed by architect Christian Skou from Crone Skou Architecture Studios. The new college, which is unnamed at this early stage, will be located within UNE’s existing college precinct on Meredith Road. The new college will be built first, to allow Robb students to relocate whilst the existing Robb accommodation facilities are being demolished and rebuilt.
UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Barber, said the Robb College plans will be respectful of the College’s rich history and give today’s students the campus accommodation they have come to expect.
“This is the second stage of what we call our College Redevelopment Project; the first stage was to begin reinvesting in our academic staff associated with the colleges,” said Professor Barber.
“Robb is a very high priority for us because it does need a lot of investment.”
UNE looked at refurbishing the existing Robb residential buildings, however it was not feasible to do so.
“We plan to keep the building which houses the dining hall and the common rooms, but to rebuild the three residential buildings on their existing footprints.
“We looked at all the options of retaining the bedrooms and it turned out that the cost of refurbishment against the value of the asset was not an option.
“The architect, Christian Skou, has really tried to retain the physical feel of Robb and worked with what was there; at the same time totally redeveloping it.”
“Our unique partnership with UniLodge, in which we will maintain our contribution to the college’s operating costs, allows us to retain the UNE culture and lifestyle and avoid privatisation.
“We will not compromise on maintaining the positive aspects of the Robb College culture and lifestyle, even if we have to subsidise the running costs, which we are.
“Our college staff is very important in maintaining these services, so Robb College staff employed by UNE are secure under this partnership with UniLodge.”
Adjunct Associate Professor Wall Whalley, who has had a long history with Robb College, believes the redevelopment is long overdue.
“We had a meeting with a lot of the Senior Common Room staff where Chief Operating Officer Peter Enlund and Jim went through”
