Leighton Contractors wins tender to build QUT precinct

An exciting new chapter in the history of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is about to begin, following the announcement of Leighton Contractors as the successful tenderer to build the $205 million Science and Technology Precinct at the Gardens Point Campus.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser and QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake made the joint announcement of Leighton's success on site.

Professor Coaldrake said construction of the new Science and Technology Precinct and Community Hub was expected to start early next year and create jobs for some 500 construction workers.

He said once completed in 2012, the nine-storey, two-tower facility will house up to 500 scientists, postgraduate research students and teaching staff. Many thousands of people will use the various facilities every week.

The facility will become internationally significant in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines, and will enhance QUT's growing reputation as a superior research and teaching institute.

Located adjacent to the recently-renovated historic Old Government House, the new precinct will involve the dramatic redevelopment of the university's Gardens Point campus.

The two multi-storey towers will feature stimulating learning and research spaces, exciting food and retail spaces, a new 50-metre swimming pool and gym, a large public forecourt to the Old Government House Precinct and a pedestrian link from the Goodwill Bridge to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

"The Science and Technology Precinct will transform our world at QUT by bringing together teaching and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a world-leading model and dynamic community hub," Professor Coaldrake said.

"Around the globe, universities and research institutes are pooling their STEM disciplines to create collaborative research centres which are driving better research results.

"The precinct will enable us to play a more significant role internationally at a time when there is a clear emphasis on global solutions to global problems, such as climate change."

Professor Coaldrake said Leighton Contractors had put forward the best proposal for what was always going to be a challenging construction job.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the Science and Technology Precinct would create one of the most impressive landmarks to grace Brisbane's river skyline and would add greatly to the city's formidable critical mass of science infrastructure located throughout its university and hospital precincts.

"The research to be undertaken here will complement that at the Ecosciences Precinct at Boggo Road, adding to the State's reputation as a world-class contributor to finding solutions that will underpin sustainable development and community living in coming decades," Mr Fraser said.

"The Science and Technology Precinct and Community Hub will enable scientists and researchers dealing with all aspects of sustainability to tackle some of the big issues of our time.

"While architecturally this facility will be impressive, its real beauty lies in the fact that it will bring together scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians to work collaboratively to find solutions to the growing range of problems created by our increasing need for, and use of, natural and manufactured resources."

Professor Coaldrake said the precinct would house an interdisciplinary research institute that draws on QUT's strengths in the areas of sustainable resources and information security and would also build demand in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among potential students.

"This will position QUT particularly well to supply new and re-skilled professionals in areas of national skills shortage," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that the new STEM facility could not have been achieved without the financial contributions of the Queensland Government ($35m), the Commonwealth Government's Education Investment Fund ($75m) and The Atlantic Philanthropies ($25m). QUT will fund the remainder.

Demolition work has begun on the third of five existing buildings that will be removed.

For updates on the Science and Technology Precinct go to: www.qut.edu.au/scitechprecinct .

Media contact: Ian Eckersley, QUT media manager, 07 3138 2361 or 0432 754 897 ian.eckersley@qut.edu.au

Or Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 n.widdowson@qut.edu.au

*Artist impression of precinct available upon request**