Student apartments for city

A view of how the former Smiths Cycles site is going to look in a few years. Photo: Supplied.

Construction of a multi-storey student accommodation complex just along Durham Street from the university site is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the campus in 2020.

Resource consent for the complex, to be located at 145 and 153 Durham Street, is currently being processed by Tauranga City Council. Once approved, construction is scheduled to start early 2018.

The 12,000sqm ultra-modern, sustainable complex will house 392 rooms, set around state-of-the-art communal areas boasting hi-tech fit-outs, live green walls and modern architectural design.

It will also include a café, retail centre, games room, 124-seat dining hall and commercial kitchen, with a 50-50 split in terms of catered and non-catered residents. A typical floor will consist of 36 rooms and a 100sqm common area.

The green light for the development comes as the city prepares for the imminent University of Waikato-led tertiary campus, expected to open in 2020, bringing with it an estimated 1500 full-time students.

'This is a modern and vibrant dedicated student accommodation facility, and will be the first and only one available in close proximity to the campus,' says director of QP Property Holdings Limited, John McColl.

'This is a substantial investment in the city's CBD and will not only benefit the tertiary precinct by offering the best in student accommodation, but also the wider community, in helping strengthen this period of revitalisation currently underway in the CBD.

'On-campus student residences are a core component in the make-up of a tertiary campus, and will strengthen student life here. We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Waikato to make this safe, secure and modern facility a reality,” says John.

The University of Waikato-led campus will be shared with members of the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership - Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and the University of Waikato.

The $88.8 million university development will roll out in two stages, with the first to be completed by 2020.

University of Waikato Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alister Jones, says such a student accommodation complex adds more appeal, and reassurance, to what is already a very attractive option for tertiary education.

'Accommodation is one of a parent's main worries when sending a child to university. They want to ensure their child is in a safe, secure and inviting environment. We believe this complex will tick all the required boxes and more,” says Alister.

'With this accommodation block set to offer the highest standard of student living in the country, we anticipate demand for rooms to be at a premium.”

Fast Facts:

  • 12,000sqm
  • 392 bedrooms
  • 100sqm communal area per floor, fitted out in a modern, hi-tech way
  • Architecturally designed with a hi-tech, industrial feel that's sustainable and ultra-modern
  • The first of its kind in Tauranga and in high demand already due to student numbers at Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology and the University of Waikato.

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6 comments

How to kill off Tauranga CBD

Posted on 14-04-2017 14:38 | By PaulM

And no car parks, other than for staff who look after the students.More stupidity sighting a so called University in the Centre of Tauranga.It will continue to die but more quickly.Where are all the Trustpower people, across the road from this new Campus parking currently ?I can do all I want in the Suburbs like Bethlehem, Bayfair,The Lakes and Papamoa, where I can park.


Parking ????

Posted on 14-04-2017 14:44 | By Mackka

Where in hell will they park their cars ?????????? The present parking spaces are being whittled away by the further addition of items on the wish list. For heaven's sake GET REAL !!


And

Posted on 14-04-2017 20:53 | By Accountable

No car parks are being provided meaning the ratepayer and the business people of the CBD will once again subsidise the developers who wish to profit from a poorly thought through Priority One initiative. Many students will have cars as well as the considerable staff required to run an establishment of this size.The CBD will loose more benefits than it will ever gain.


OTOH

Posted on 15-04-2017 11:47 | By Captain Hottie

The lack of parking does suck, TCC seems to be hell bent on 'revitalising' the CBD with no thought of either more parking or better public transport. Students don't work 8.30 to 5, they need transport during the day and later at night. The bus terminal is full of weirdos and street kids, I wouldn't want my kids to be taking buses at night. However perhaps the influx of students will make retailers lift their game, shops open better hours, and not so many For Lease signs up. Though please don't let CBD be full of dollar shops and cheap food outlets instead!


Parking

Posted on 15-04-2017 12:11 | By dookie

Parking is fine. People are simply too lazy to walk more than 50m and expect to park right outside the shop you want to visit. Bring on the Uni, bring on the development that comes along with it! Well done Tauranga, don't let the few same old whingers stop us progressing into a decent city.


@ Captain Hottie

Posted on 15-04-2017 12:36 | By Roadkill

Students by nature don't have money, booze however a priority, otherwise all else is cheap-as-chips is the market level they seek. The logical/obvious place for University is Windamere, last place for it is the CBD, end result: $1 shops, student bars and the like will sprout all over the place. Parking will be worse, buses are under control of RBOP who're decades behind the game any day of week. CBD's fate will be worse not better as a result of the University setting up and opening. Effectively the CBD will provide two options for CBD retailers, supply TCC office support or services to students. Neither is a productive or useful option unless you can get onto the Councils preferred supplier list and if you get that then every day will be spent climbing into rainbows pot of gold, a veritable bath totally. The contrast will be jaw-dropping.


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