New Bankstown City campus spearheads economic growth, higher education opportunities and knowledge jobs for south-west Sydney
Official opening of Western Sydney University’s Bankstown City campus.
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Western Sydney University has showcased its new $340 million high-rise Bankstown City campus with an official celebration attended by Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP ahead of the campus commencing teaching in early 2023.
Developed in partnership with Walker Corporation, the University’s newest vertical campus will drive economic growth and open higher education and employment opportunities for Australia’s fastest-growing region.
With capacity for up to 10,000 students and 1,000 staff, the Bankstown City campus will deliver approximately $140 million a year in additional economic uplift to Canterbury-Bankstown and Western Sydney. It has been awarded a 6-Star Green Star design rating, representing 'World Leadership' in environmentally sustainable building practices.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, said the Bankstown City campus is a significant achievement that delivers positive outcomes for the whole community.
“Western Sydney University is proud to partner with Walker Corporation to deliver transformational infrastructure in the heart of the region’s key growth centres, helping to reinvent our cities’ public spaces where people gather to work, live, socialise and learn,” said Professor Glover.
“The Bankstown City campus is an exciting next chapter that intensifies the University’s long-standing educational commitment to Bankstown and Milperra. It allows us to continue to improve higher education equity and access, particularly for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those who are the first in their family to attend university, and to boost graduation rates and employment outcomes for the people of south-west Sydney for generations to come.”
Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP said: “This used to be a council car park. Now it will be a university campus home to 10,000 students. This is the sort of change I want to see more of in Western Sydney.”
Walker Corporation Executive Chairman, Lang Walker AO said Walker and Western Sydney University have created a campus that connects students with future employment opportunities.
“We are proud to deliver quality infrastructure in the heart of Bankstown which gives local families the opportunity to have their kids educated from kindergarten to a university degree and then onto employment,” said Mr Walker.
“Western Sydney University will deliver world class education at this campus from 2023 and will be complemented by nine levels of premium commercial office space providing a direct pathway to great careers after graduation.
“The campus and commercial floors will deliver over $140 million a year to the local economy elevating Bankstown in a thriving Western Sydney.”
The 18-storey, technology-rich campus comprises 26,000m² of state-of-the-art facilities. With nine floors dedicated to university teaching, learning and research, it has a particular focus on the needs of fast-growing Canterbury-Bankstown and south-west Sydney, in areas such as health, advanced manufacturing for small and medium enterprises, and education.
Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in fields such as teacher education, psychology, arts and humanities, business, accounting, IT and non-clinical health areas, as well as the University’s College pathway programs, will be offered at the Bankstown City campus.
Importantly, work integrated learning will give students hands-on learning opportunities with local business and industry, helping to strengthen their skills and enhance their employability. The University’s collaborative enterprise and research partnerships, and strong industry, community and business linkages will also actively work to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the local region.
Bankstown City campus is part of the University’s ‘Western Growth’ strategy – an ambitious program that is co-creating cities and transformative educational infrastructure across Western Sydney, in partnership with industry and government.
- The campus has been developed and delivered by award winning Australian company Walker Corporation and the base building was designed by architects Lyons. The University’s fitout architect was HDR and was designed to reflect the University’s future aspiration.
- Teaching and research spaces are infused throughout every level of the building, as well as conference spaces, flexible spaces to showcase industry partnerships and innovation, informal learning areas, and social spaces for students including indoor and outdoor terraces.
- The campus will be home to the ‘Factory of the Future’, a state-of-the-art collaborative facility for local industry to explore new technology and innovation. Offering world-class studio spaces, the facility will support the region’s collaborative research and development capacity across key high-tech areas.
- Located between City of Canterbury-Bankstown’s administration building, library and knowledge centre, the campus is highly accessible for students, staff and visitors using public transport, including the future Bankstown Metro station.
- 6-Star Green Star sustainable design is also a vital part of the new campus. Features include the capture and re-use of rainwater, as well as innovative thermal and lighting systems and solar roof panels.
Bankstown City campus will be home to the Factory of the Future, a state-of-the-art collaborative facility for local industry to explore new technology and innovation.
Offering world-class studio spaces, the facility will provide advanced design tools and virtual and augmented reality solutions across R&D, prototyping, training and computer aided design, boosting small-to-medium enterprises (SME's).
The facility will support the region’s collaborative research and development capacity across key high-tech areas, including rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, collaborative robotics and sustainable manufacturing.
It will also offer a technology and innovation discovery centre delivering an inspiring education experience for local school children.
Factory of the Future is part of Launch Pad – the University’s acclaimed technology business incubator.
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12 December 2022
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