UTAS reveals plans to renovate former Forestry dome into a new campus

The University of Tasmania has revealed their grand plans for the iconic Forestry building of Melville Street, which has been left gathering dust for years.

The University of Tasmania has revealed its grand plans for the iconic Forestry building of Melville St, which has been left gathering dust for years.

The designs will be submitted to Hobart City Council for approval this week, and a sneak preview shows a new retro-fitted interior filled with shrubs, gardens, and hanging greenery.

The dome’s original architect, Robert Morris-Nunn, said he was looking forward to seeing his abandoned atrium filled with life and greenery once more.

“The garden was always part of the intention for the space as I designed it, and to see it brought back to life to be enjoyed by the community will be wonderful,” he said.

“To me it is almost a godsend that this building is actually becoming part of the university property.”

VISION: An artist's impression of the proposed UTAS campus inside the old forestry building. Picture: Supplied

Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said he was confident the new university building would bring foot traffic back to that quiet end of town.

“Retailers need customers. The move to the university in the old forestry building and its refurbishment will enable more customers to come to the city,” Mr Mallett said.

“I think this is one of the most exciting projects that Hobart’s seen for many years. It’s been a dead end of town, the forestry building, and yet the glass dome has been an iconic piece of architecture here for 20 years. “

VISION: An artist's impression of the proposed UTAS campus inside the old forestry building. Picture: Supplied

The relocation has met with fierce opposition from Save UTAS Campus protesters who oppose the sell-off of the Sandy Bay campus.

One of them is former lecturer Pam Sharpe, who said the crowded inner city was no place for a university building.

Professor Sharpe, and the other protesters, will be writing objections to the development application as soon as it is filed with council.

“Nobody I’ve spoken to is against fantastic new buildings, we just rather they start from scratch and build a 21st century building on campus where there’s plenty of space,” Professor Sharpe said.

VISION: An artist's impression of the proposed UTAS campus inside the old forestry building. Picture: Supplied

“There are plenty of opportunities for state-of-the-art university buildings people could admire from a distance, rather than on the crowded Melville St.”

Campus Transformation Executive Director Phil Leersen said the revamped new building would inject some vitality into that corner of town.

“The urban design framework for our new campus is built around four principles which arose through conversations with the community – place, community, accessibility and sustainability,” he said.

“We are delighted to be restoring community access to an iconic Hobart space for everyone to enjoy.”