28 November 2022

The project is part of the multi-million upgrade of Unitec’s facilities and when completed Building 108 will be a significant asset to Unitec and all the Schools that will be housed there.

The School of Architecture is already in the building and making good use of its new facilities, including the Maker Space workshop.

Currently, Unitec is planning for Computing and Electrical Engineering to move back to their former home in Semester 1 2023, along with the Trade School’s painting courses.

Creative Industries will follow them to their new home, sometime after March.

For most schools, the new areas will be an expansion of their current spaces, but for the School of Creative Industries, especially the Screen Arts and Design and Contemporary Arts ākonga, it will be a new purpose-built, industry-standard facility. One of the most exciting areas is the film studio, which will give our ākonga the ability to build sets, act, and film screen content in a professional studio environment.

 A new screening room will have seating for up to 80 people, while the eight editing suites are equipped with a remote server, giving students easy access to their work, on and off-site, similar to those used in industry-standard post-production facilities.

Head of School Associate Professor Vanessa Byrnes notes the significance of this facility in Creative Industries’ future:

“Building 108 is a game-changer. Creative careers are soaring internationally, and this facility supports a successful vision for many disciplines under one large roof. Our School is built on strong relationships with industry and practical, studio-based education, so this exceptional facility will enable Creative Industries and other Schools to grow further in partnership with the best. We are also excited about being situated close to our Marae, Te Noho Kotahitanga, thereby strengthening the Treaty-led values that navigate our practices.’

Being able to train in the same type of facilities that you will eventually work in is an enormous advantage for any student and aligns with Unitec’s work-ready philosophy. Building 108 represents a significant investment by Unitec in modern facilities to ensure that our commitment to real-world teaching and learning aligns with industry expectations.”