Professor Helen Nicholson cuts the ribbon to officially open the new wing.
The Aquinas College extension was officially opened this week.
The extension includes a new 66-bed wing, additional communal facilities, a new gym, whānau room, redeveloped courtyard and additional tutorial space. The additional beds bring the total college capacity to 224 students.
The new 1,940 m²wing named “Te Kōhaka” or the nest was designed by Jasmax. It replaced a former gymnasium, which was previously used as a chapel. Each of the new floors is named after a native bird, fitting into the nest theme.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson says the University of Otago is proud to be one of the few truly residential universities in Australasia.
“Eighty-five per cent of our undergraduate domestic students come from outside Dunedin and most of them start their life in a residential college. Our colleges offer so much more than other universities’ hostels. As well as providing accommodation and great food, our college staff provide outstanding pastoral care and excellent academic support.
“I think those of us who started their lives in a residential college know that it’s an opportunity to grow up quickly and develop friends who stay with you for the rest of your life. Our colleges are really the jewels of our crown and are essential for student recruitment.”
Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis says the extension to the dining room will allow all students in the college to dine together at the same time.
“We are confident that Te Kōhaka will continue to be a home away from home for our students and a place where they can experience the best of academic and social life.”
The exterior and a bedroom of the new wing at Aquinas.
Aquinas College Warden Rosemary Tarbotton says it was wonderful to celebrate the opening of the new wing with so many people who made it all possible.
Five key cultural values are embodied in the design to enrich the college’s identity. These were identified by Aukaha in consultation with local iwi, Ngāi Tahu, and include Tomokanga (a welcoming entry, Mauri and Mana (life force and power, expressed in the central gathering space for this community, the dining area). Taiao (natural environment) is reflected in the new landscaped courtyard. The values of Whakapapa (celebrating ancestry and context to create a meaningful sense of place), and Kaika Waewae (creating a sense of home away from home) are embedded throughout to ensure students are supported in their transition toward independent living.
Originally built for the Dominican order of the Roman Catholic church in 1954, Aquinas College soon became a key residential college for Dunedin tertiary students. It provided accommodation for male students only until 1989, when female students began to be integrated into the campus. Aquinas College was purchased by the University in 1988 and initially run as Dalmore House before the original name was restored in 1996.
Aquinas College alumni include former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, All Blacks Earle Kirton and Josh Kronfeld, world-renowned surgeon Professor Sir Murray Brennan, road-racing cyclist Jack Bauer, and former University of Otago Chancellor Mr John Ward.
Kōrero by Kerry Dohig, Communications Adviser