$3.5 million for new engineering building

A $3.5 million cheque is presented to the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide: (from left) the Chancellor, the Hon. John von Doussa QC, Federal Education Minister the Hon. Julie Bishop, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha, the Federal Member for Boothby, Dr Andrew Southcott, and the Liberal candidate for Adelaide, Ms Tracy Marsh.
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Returning to their alma mater, the Federal Member for Boothby, Dr Andrew Southcott (Medicine), and the Federal Education Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop (Law), speak with Engineering and Arts double-degree student Aaron Russell, a student representative on the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Council.
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Friday, 11 May 2007
Federal Education Minister the Hon. Julie Bishop has today handed over a $3.5 million cheque to the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide to contribute to a new engineering building, which is aimed at catering for the significant growth in students in .
Ms Bishop and Dr Andrew Southcott, the Federal Member for Boothby, presented the cheque to Vice-Chancellor and President and Chancellor during a visit to the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ today.
The new $100 million engineering building is to be built on the site currently occupied by the Mathematics Building on the lower level of the North Terrace Campus.
"The eight-storey building will provide more than 11,000 square metres of space for learning, teaching, research, and other student and staff facilities," Professor McWha said.
"It will be a much-needed addition to our teaching facilities and our campus life. The building will allow the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to develop and grow, and will also improve the overall campus environment, with a three-storey atrium and other open spaces, and public art that will help to reinforce a sense of place and purpose," he said.
"The $3.5 million contribution from the Federal Government is extremely welcome, and will assist the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide to remain at the forefront of teaching and research in engineering, computer science and mathematics."
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Faculty of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences currently has 2700 students enrolled, and is predicted to grow to 3400 students by 2011 - a growth of 37%.
"The unprecedented growth in the mining, technology and defence industries in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ has created a high demand for quality graduates in engineering disciplines," Professor McWha said.
"This new building will help the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to play a key role in providing skilled graduates for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, the nation and the world."
Work on the new building is expected to begin in early 2008.
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