Petrie university focus shifts from construction to getting it operational in time for 2020

The USC Moreton Bay foundation building at Petrie is taking shape and is on track for a 2020 opening.

Progress on the construction of USC Moreton Bay. Picture: David Alexander

DESPITE some weather delays, construction on Australia’s first new greenfield university campus in almost 20 years is on track.

The USC Moreton Bay foundation building is taking shape with the framework for the facade of the 480-seat amphitheatre now visible.

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“With that particular facade, we want to get the schools to design LED lighting patterns that we can use,” USC chief operating officer Dr Scott Snyder told Pine Rivers Press.

Progress on the construction of USC Moreton Bay. Picture: David Alexander

“The person contracted to oversee that has done lighting for U2 concerts so it should be interesting.”

Mr Snyder said the focus was already moving from construction towards having an operational campus ready for the 2020 opening.

“The building is just one part of the project. We now have to make some decisions on furniture and things like that,” he said.

University of the Sunshine Coast USC Petrie campus foundation building. Artist’s impression of the large amphitheatre inside the foundation building that will be used for community events. CREDIT: Hassell Studio

Of the three levels in the foundation building, the ground floor will be mostly teaching space which will be ready in January, the middle floor will be for staff offices and will be ready by the second week of February. The top floor is where the major labs will be and this section will be ready a couple of weeks after teaching begins in March.

The 2020 cohort will be mostly first year students.

An aerial view of what the university campus will look like at Petrie.

“We have very early indications of student numbers but we won’t really know until August,” Mr Snyder said.

USC recently put a call-out to fill 30 academic positions while call-outs for non-academic staff will be made in about 2-3 months.

It also held a series of town hall meetings recently and feedback will be taken on board, Mr Snyder said.