Brick buyers help lay education foundations

They could be the most expensive bricks in town - but it's for a very good cause.

QUT will gradually demolish its nine-storey "L Block" in the city heart after November 23, with work completed by March next year. The university is selling 100 bricks from L Block for $1000 each to raise funds for the QUT Learning Potential Fund - a perpetual fund to support scholarships and bursaries for low-income students.

L Block is the big brown building on the edge of QUT's Gardens Point campus and is one of the first sights to greet drivers as they cross the Captain Cook Bridge into the CBD.

It is currently covered with the city's biggest photo - a picture of the university's $230 million Science and Engineering Centre which is being built next door.

Claimed to be one of Brisbane's least attractive buildings, L Block opened its doors in 1971 and holds special memories for many QUT (and QIT) graduates, particularly engineers and business students.

QUT's Alumni and Development Director Simone Garske said the university was giving people the chance to buy an L Block brick - and lay the foundations for a student's future.

"The money raised will go to the QUT Learning Potential Fund, which provides scholarships and bursaries to help low-income students reach their potential through education," Ms Garske said.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said: "We are only selling 100 bricks and buyers include alumni, former staff and, in some cases, to people connected with the university who are simply happy to see the passing of L Block."

Donations are tax deductible.

For details, call Ms Garske on 3138 2897 or email s.garske@qut.edu.au.

DECEMBER 3 UPDATE: The L Block bricks have now all been sold! However, donations to QUT's Learning Potential Fund are always welcome. Please contact Ms Garske on the details above.

Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, 07 3138 9449 (Mon-Tues) or media@qut.edu.au