The University of Newcastle (UoN) will soon welcome the region’s next generation of creative artists, songwriters, animators and innovators to its Honeysuckle City Campus site.
The handover of keys on the Q Building project is scheduled to take place this week.
Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky picked them up from builders Hansen Yuncken on Monday 31 May and confirmed the state-of-the-art premises (formerly referred to at Honeysuckle Stage 1A) will open its doors to University of Newcastle students from 19 July.
Fast-tracked by the NSW Government as part of their “shovel-ready” infrastructure stimulus during the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Q Building will house new facilities for the university’s creative disciplines of Media Arts Production, News and Digital Media, Animation, Creative Arts, Performing Arts, Song Writing and Music Production.
It will also be the new home to two of the uni’s industry and community engagement services.
Q Building will house the Future Arts and Science and Technology Lab (FASTLab) – a living lab and translational research centre, as well as the Integrated Innovation Network Hub (I2N) dedicated to the incubation, start-up, scale-up and launch of new commercial ventures.
“Q Building is set to become the entrepreneurial epicentre of the Hunter,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“From its inception, we have designed and delivered Q Building to give our students access to the best technical equipment for their studies.
“This includes a black box studio, animation studios, showcase performance and teaching spaces, as well as audio visual studios and a ground floor makerspace where ideas become reality.
“Through our funding partnership with Restart NSW, City of Newcastle, and the Hunter Innovation Project, we’ll also be providing our communities with access to the latest in innovation and business start-up and scale-up services – delivered through I2N.”
Professor Zelinsky said by co-locating the two facilities, the university was providing students, staff and industry partners with continuity of exposure to a “create and innovate” ecosystem.
“With delivery of Q Building at Honeysuckle, we’re offering people and new businesses with space that encourages the convergence of ideas, creation, innovation and commercialisation delivered through FASTLab and the I2N Hub,” he explained.
“These facilities will be incredibly important for new industries and economic growth in our region to thrive.
“I want to thank our partners for helping the university realise this vision and for supporting the project through to completion.
“I’m looking forward to the first graduands to make their way into the world after studying in this terrific facility.”
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