JCU reveals plans for massive expansion of Townsville campus

ONE of Queensland’s largest universities has revealed ambitious plans for a $1.9 billion expansion of its campus.

TOWNSVILLE’S largest university has revealed ambitious plans for a $1.9 billion expansion of its campus.

James Cook University has unveiled its master plan — a blueprint to grow the campus over the next 50 years and create hundreds of jobs.

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus. Images: Richard Coulson (COX Architecture)

Lush learning oases, bush walks and driverless buses — it’s all part of the university’s ambitious blueprint.

The Townsville Campus Master Plan reveals that in the near future the university will add a raft of new buildings and technologies to the campus.

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus.

Included are a Technology Innovation Complex, a Central Plaza, residential accommodation, and an Ideas Market.

The University will continue to develop Mount Stuart Street with a mix of academic and student accommodation, and commercial, retail, and public functions.

JCU will invest $1.9 billion over the next 20 years to create a lively and vibrant campus which blends in with its natural environment.

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus.

The master plan, designed to strengthen the Townsville university’s uniqueness, aims to create what’s being called a “sticky campus”.

“Sticky campus is an overall term for creating an environment that encourages students to come and stay on the campus and engage with peers and academics,” said JCU’s estate director Hilary Kavanagh.

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus.

“To enable the campus to be sticky it has to be able to provide a range of services for those students: childcare, food, recreation and high quality infrastructure. We hope to achieve that through good marketing, architecture and landscape design.”

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus.

The Townsville Campus Master Plan reveals that in the near future, JCU will add a $90 million technology innovation complex, a central plaza, residential accommodation and an ideas market to the campus.

“We have already started the $5 million phase one of the Central Plaza project,” Mr Kavanagh said.

“We’ve engaged with Cox Architecture to design that with us and that is moving forward currently. We are currently short-listing architects for the design of the technology innovation complex. That tender process finishes mid-February.”

Aerial from Mt Stuart. Photo: Richard Coulson (COX Architecture)

The university will continue to develop Mount Stuart St with a mix of academic and student accommodation, and commercial, retail, and public facilities.

It’s envisioned that by 2035 new childcare facilities, an aged-care home and a hotel will be built on the campus, with on-campus jobs expected to increase from 3483 to 5000. Feedback showed students wanted the master plan to preserve environmental corridors.

“Through the engagement on the master plan they identified several things that are really important to them,” Mr Kavanagh said.

James Cook University has unveiled an ambitious master plan for its Townsville campus.

“Retaining wildlife on campus is one of the important things they stressed, also retaining and developing the flora of the region. One of the best ways to achieve that is creating an arboretum.”

An internal bus loop at the campus is also proposed.

“We are investigating autonomous buses and other modes of getting our students around campus,” Mr Kavanagh said.

The campus will be designed as an amenity for the wider community to enjoy and JCU will host activities and attractions for residents and visitors such as markets, concerts and festivals.

“We really want the people of Townsville to come and use and enjoy the campus,” he said.

Originally published as JCU reveals plans for massive expansion of Townsville campus