Artist’s impression of the proposed UNSW Canberra City campus.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra is establishing a world-class research, education, and innovation campus located in the south-east of Canberra’s City Centre.
UNSW Canberra City is a key component of the University’s four-stage master plan and will redefine the cityscape through their development of a new campus on Constitution Avenue.
The new campus will establish state of the art education and research facilities, offer collaborative industry activities, and provide amenities to support the campus population, such as parking, student accommodation, student services, and retail.
UNSW Canberra City will facilitate innovation and growth in the defence and cyber security industries, building on Canberra’s strength and providing greater opportunities to collaborate. The new campus will also be part of the reimagining of the City Centre’s south-eastern corner, capitalising on the area’s capacity to collocate education, recreation and tourism uses. With one of the premier addresses in the National Capital, the new campus will be a key driver for City Centre success.
The ACT Government commissioned an independent economic analysis which found UNSW Canberra City would bring significant economic benefits to Canberra. The campus is expected to generate 2,000 jobs and for every $1 of investment generated, there would be $3 in economic benefit to the ACT.
The ACT Government’s investment in the UNSW Canberra City includes:
This transformative project is expected to be progressed in stages. UNSW’s Master Plan identifies four stages of construction between 2025 and 2036. Construction on state-of-the-art educational Stage One buildings in Parkes is slated to commence in 2025, pending necessary approvals, including those from the National Capital Authority.
UNSW Canberra is engaging with the community and stakeholders to help inform the implementation of new building and public space development for the new campus as defined by the approved Master Plan for the campus.
Through the City Renewal Authority, the ACT Government is overseeing the sustainable design quality of the new campus under the Precinct Deed (Deed) with UNSW. This will ensure the benefits for the Canberra community are realised. The City Renewal Authority will retain two hectares of land currently occupied by CIT Reid for future uses which are yet to be determined.
More information about UNSW Canberra City including design concepts are available to view on the UNSW Canberra website.
Artist’s impression of UNSW Canberra City Stage One buildings. Credit: Hassell.
The City Renewal Authority is responsible for administering the Deed contract with UNSW. The contract suite defines requirements for the Authority’s progressive oversight of UNSW’s development of a high-quality sustainable built and landscape environment.
ACT Government endorsement of progressive design stages will be required before they proceed through the planning approval and development process, beginning with Stage One.
The Authority is working with UNSW to ensure the new city development aligns with our City South-East objectives described in our City Precinct Renewal Program and demonstrates the application of our design principles.
The ACT Government will retain approximately two hectares of land at the eastern end of the current CIT Reid campus for future release. The City Renewal Authority will undertake further consultation, due diligence, feasibility and place-led design work for the site and its prospective uses.
UNSW and the ACT Government have been working together over several years on the new UNSW Canberra City. The ACT Government considered a range of factors to determine its contribution to the new UNSW campus proposal including:
UNSW Canberra City is within the declared City Renewal Precinct and will renew and enliven the city’s eastern fringe delivering key outcomes for the ACT Government’s city renewal and education agenda.
The use of this site as an expanded education facility also directly aligns with the ACT Government’s strategy to revitalise Constitution Avenue and better connect the city to the lake.
Over 700 car spaces will remain available during construction of the new UNSW campus.
The ACT Government will provide advance notice and alternative parking options for those using the car parks across the road from the Reid CIT when they are due to close.
Public car spaces are currently available on Constitution Avenue and Allara Street in the car park near Civic Pool and the car park on the corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit, and underground in Constitution Place located at 1 Constitution Avenue.
The former railway reserve land is on the ACT Heritage Register. UNSW will integrate this important open space into their Stage 2 and 3 developments, ensuring it remains open and accessible to the ACT community.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.