No doubt it’s been a while since you’ve been on campus and with some face-to-face teaching returning for Semester 1, there’s a lot to look forward to if you’re coming back soon for classes. Here’s a recap on some things that changed while you were gone.
Big ticket items:
You’ve probably heard about or at least seen these two big projects when you were here last; the new La Trobe Sports Stadium at the Sports Park, and the new student accommodation, officially called La Trobe Apartments North and South. Both projects were completed last year with students moving into their brand new apartments and the stadium earning a world-leading sustainable building ranking!
Upgraded teaching spaces:
Some of our teaching spaces were given some love while you were away! Archaeology students have a refreshed teaching room in the Social Sciences building, with display cabinets for all those fancy artefacts.
Over on Level 2 of Health Sciences 2, three fixed-seated seminar rooms were transformed into workshop-style classrooms with new AV systems and air conditioning!
Speaking of air conditioning, the Agora Theatre and Cinema has a brand spanking new system to keep you cool when face-to-face lectures return!
And for our future nurses and midwives, finishing touches are being completed on a new high-tech nursing lab on Level 1 of Biological Sciences 1 which includes two simulation labs and 24 hospital-standard beds to give students an immersive learning experience.
Services and facilities:
Next time you’re in the Agora, you might notice the bathrooms outside the Library had a much-needed makeover with additional cubicles; baby change facilities; ‘contactless’ flushing sensors, soap dispensers, taps and hand dryers; and CCTV cameras outside the entrances to improve safety. There’s also a brand-new gender-neutral accessible bathroom.
And the Thomas Cherry building is home to a new support services area for students to book appointments and consultations with the Student Success team.
Around the grounds:
You’ll see some new pathways when you’re out and about. Heading to the Sports Park?Take the new wheelchair friendly pathway that lights up at night and runs from the Science Drive bus interchange and across Kingsbury Drive via pedestrian traffic lights.
For those who park in Car Parks 1 and 2, a new pathway is being constructed along here to improve access and safety – it includes LED lighting, CCTV and duress buttons to keep everyone safe.
Up north, the bus terminus near the corner of Plenty Road (diagonally across from McDonalds) had a mini makeover with the brick walls removed to improve visibility and safety.
And in Car Parks 1, 2, 7 and 8 you’ll see some unusual garden beds, known as rain gardens. They collect and naturally clean storm water before it runs into the moat and Darebin Creek, improving the waterway for flora and fauna. It’s all part of our commitment to enhance and protect Nangak Tamboree.
While we’re talking about gardens, next time you’re at the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary for a self-guided walk, check out the new Backyard Biodiversity Garden which demonstrates how to incorporate indigenous plants into gardens of all shapes and sizes – maybe you can pick up a plant or two while you’re there!
Our Net Zero journey continues:
On the topic of the environment, our efforts to become Net Zero by 2029 haven’t stopped. Last year we finished installing 24,000 energy efficient LED lights in 98 buildings across all campuses with Stage 2 now in progress. The Melbourne Campus is also home to 7,500 rooftop solar panels which allow us to generate 2.5 MW of renewable power –equivalent to 500 household solar systems!
As you can see, there’s been a lot going on around the campus to improve our buildings, facilities and grounds to make them safer and a better environment for students.