Progress on the services and finishing

While we've been preoccupied with the structure in recent times (for obvious reasons) it's encouraging to see lot's of work occurring inside the building. Internal walls are going up on Levels 1, 2 and 3, windows are being fitted and all services are progressing with well advanced plumbing, air-conditioning and electrical work on Levels 1 and 2.

The structure itself is up to the 6th floor with both the 6A and 6B slab floors due to be poured next week. Rain has disrupted things this week a little but hopefully this will still occur next week. The complete structure is due for completion by mid July (about 6 weeks).

Work on the marketing of the Village is also well progressed with a new website to be launched in a few weeks and promotional work already occurring. Applications are coming in and some places have been offered. I am now beginning to think through the specifics of the pastoral care and academic support that will need to be in place by January.


Above - Looking out to the inner courtyard from the Level 3 south-west common room


Above - Walls going in on Level 3









Left - Walls and insulation going in on Level 1

Progress on the services and finishing

A great aerial shot of the Village

This shot taken from the UNSW L5 building opposite New College gives a good sense of the bulk of the building and the progress.

For UNSW alumni a note on the L5 building. It replaced the old bowling alley which was later Unisearch House. The University has built a wonderful 8 storey high building on site (actually our builder for the NCV - Lipman actually built it!!) which houses the University Foundation Studies Program for overseas students and also a major IT research centre (NICTA). UNSW sold the building last year and those parts of UNSW still using it have leased the space back. The building has won many architectural awards. In a review Architecture Australia comented that the building "is flawless, both in execution and conception".

A great aerial shot of the Village

At the half way mark!

Yesterday we reached the halfway mark with the structure. The second half of the fourth floor slab was laid and the walls for half of Level 4 have been erected. In fact, if you include the basement we are well past halfway and the structure is growing one storey each 13 days. We expect the final floor of the structure to be completed by mid-July.

The central courtyard will (I suspect) be one of the key sites for social interaction in the Village. It will be the site of Friday afternoon BBQs that Carmen and I intend to host. While it is currently used to store materials, it will eventually have a raised lawn and garden, a BBQ area and wireless access to the Internet.

At the more micro level, it has also been exciting to see the services beginning with plumbing well underway. We will also see the first windows installed this week and Level 1 will soon be completely stripped ready for full fit-out.

At the half way mark!

Work on the 4th floor commences

Progress on the NCV was slowed a little last week due to Sydney's rain and holidays. Rain occurred on 13 consecutive days which I think is a record for Sydney. In spite of this we were not badly affected until Tuesday last week. We also had a public holiday on Friday and this is always associated with a rostered day off across the construction industry in this country. We also lose Saturday on long weekends. The outcome was a week that had 2 work days rather than 6. Nevertheless, the project program has built in holidays and allowances for wet days so the impact on the completion date is not great.

This week has seen cold days and clear skies so progress has been good. The second stage of the 3rd floor slab was poured yesterday and work is well on the way for the first stage of the 4th floor slab to be poured next Tuesday. The walls for the 3rd floor are well advanced and should be completed by next week.

As you can see from the image above the building is beginning to take on significant bulk and height. This image shows the inner courtyard viewed from the North East corner of the 3rd floor. Yes, the crane tower will eventually go!


ABOVE - Admin section on the ground floor (I know it has some way to go before we can use the phones)


ABOVE - Main common room on the ground floor (this will seat 120 people)


ABOVE - West wing of the ground floor

Work on the 4th floor commences

Up to the 3rd Floor

The first half of the 3rd floor slab was laid this week and the erection of the walls for this floor also commenced. The bulk of the building grows each week with its presence on Anzac Parade being observed by all who enter the University via the main University mall. In spite of regular daily showers this last two weeks there has been good progress.


Our marketing program is also well underway and already applications are being received for accommodation in the New College Village. Bookings have also been taken for conferences in 2009.

Up to the 3rd Floor

New College Village from the air

Some shots from the top of L5 show that the structure is on the move. They also show what a great location this is!

New College Village from the air

Level 2 takes shape

March was a great month for construction with no days lost due to rain. As a result there has been good progress on site. The last ground floor slab was pouted this week and work on Levels 1 and 2 are well advanced. All of the AFS walls have been erected for Level 1 and 60% of Level 2. With the completion of the missing link slab at ground level we will see the structure rising (eventually) at a uniform rate. The East and Southern sections of the building will continue to be in advance of the west and north for some weeks.

A prototype room is nearing completion, and as well as allowing Lipman to test construction methods and materials, will allow us to show prospective residents what the accommodation will be like.

View of the southern wing across the inner courtyard

View of the southern and western wings and the courtyard

View to the west showing existing western campus buildings

Level 2 takes shape