Art in The Link … Campus Temp Eleanor Riley stops to check out the murals being painted in The Link.
The Link is being refreshed so it is more inviting for students.
Walls are prepped for murals, the furniture, carpet and vinyl will be replaced, while new microwaves and alcoves for pop-up stalls have already been installed.
Strategic Architect Gordon Roy says this is an important hub on the Dunedin campus which has not had been refreshed for several years. The upgrade is in line with University’s Pae Tata Strategic Plan to 2030 that envisages vibrant spaces that meet students’ needs and contribute to their outstanding experiences at Otago.
The changes are being made during the next couple of months – mostly during the mid-semester break – in between the University Union and main library, Gordon says.
Murals started being painted on The Link’s concrete ‘bunkers’ last weekend. Vinyl flooring will be installed in the upper section of the bunkers next month to help differentiate them from the main thoroughfare and new seating and tables will be provided to support University food vendors who operate in those spaces.
New furniture will be installed alongside the main library early next month and the existing furniture will be recycled or relocated as appropriate. The new furniture will be a mix of café-style seating and social seating for relaxed get-togethers, he says.
Minimal disruption is expected during the refresh. The only noisy work, grinding the existing concrete and tiles before installing the vinyl, is scheduled for outside normal business hours, from about 6pm on Monday 2 September. Access to AskOtago will be maintained.
Some enhancements have already been introduced in The Link.
Pop-up stalls and activities can now be hosted in two alcoves kowhai (yellow) and karaka (orange) near the main entrance from the one-way south, Cumberland Street. These alcoves can be booked by contacting University Union Operations Manager Martin Jones.
A new bank of nine microwaves, which has recently been introduced, has been very popular with students and they are usually queuing to use them at lunchtimes, Martin says.
