Future Campus | Estate Management

The Future Campus project aims to understand how UNSW’s space needs have changed and how they will continue to change in the future. The program is considering what we want from our campuses in the coming years, from world-class learning and teaching spaces and research infrastructure to modern offices and outdoor campus areas.

This work will help the University leverage its assets to attract students, staff, partners and communities into the future.

The Future Campus program will inform the University’s next Campus Master Plan and Asset Management Plan.

Future Campus Pillars and Space Principles

Four working groups with representatives from across faculties and divisions are guiding the project under four pillars: Education & Student Experience, Research & Entrepreneurial Campus, Workspace, and Campus Experience.

The working groups have drafted high-level Space Principles that capture our shared aspirations and objectives for the design and development of future campus spaces to reflect the University’s changing needs. These Principles will inform more detailed Guidelines which will be applied to new capital projects and will inform space strategies for the University.

Share your feedback on the draft Future Campus Space Principles by Friday 12 July.

Visit a showcase on the Kensington, Paddington and Canberra campuses to learn more about the draft Future Campus Space Principles.

Frequently asked questions about the Future Campus project and Space Principles.

Pillar one: Education & Student Experience

Includes the below spaces:

Spaces on campus that support formal and informal education experience, inclusive of the supporting spaces for the delivery of the online/digital experience and specialist teaching spaces such as makerspaces, laboratories and studios etc.
Centrally allocated teaching spaces (CATS), restricted access teaching spaces (RATS), student-led spaces (SLS) and supporting education spaces; online teaching hubs, student support hubs (Nucleus), libraries and education co-op.

Student experience incorporates the undergraduate, postgraduate, short course, life-long learning, alumni and future student cohorts.

Note: HDR students will be covered in Research and Workspace working group. Student accommodation is subject to a separate strategy.

Pillar two: Research & Entrepreneurial Campus

Includes the below spaces:

Spaces designed and allocated primarily for specialist research that may contain specialised equipment such as wet lab research laboratories.
Spaces allocated (via agreement or lease) or shared with industry as part of entrepreneurial campus.
Spaces that are part of partnerships and/or agreements with other sites outside of University-owned campuses that fall under Precincts.
Inclusive of Higher Degree Research students and their use of these specialist facilities.

Note: Excludes office and workstation areas, which will be included in the Workspace pillar.

Pillar three: Workspace

Includes the below spaces:

Office-style accommodation where academic staff, professional staff, visiting staff and HDR students may do all or part of their work on the University campus.
Inclusive of informal and formal meeting spaces, breakout spaces, kitchens and any other spaces that support typical office function.

Pillar four: Campus experience

Includes the below:

Overarching themes of the campus experience (both indoor and outdoor spaces), including accessibility, inclusivity, cultural inclusion, Indigenous perspectives, events, safety and wellbeing for all staff, students and community that use our campuses.

Note: Excludes retail and leasing spaces that are subject to a separate strategy.

Current work

Pilot studies

The Future Campus team is leveraging pilot opportunities to engage, inform and learn throughout the project. We want new spaces to be reflective of the future ways we want to work, deliver education, foster and translate research, and enjoy our campus.

Our team is collaborating with the working groups, external specialists and key stakeholders to identify opportunities for new pilot studies.

Current pilot studies include:

Health Translation Hub due for delivery in 2025
UNSW Press/Library Workspace
Hilmer Building Research Pilot
Medicine & Health Lab Pilot.

Building audits

Building condition audits are underway for the Kensington campus to understand the current condition and lifecycle of our buildings. These audits will inform the level of investment in assets, appropriate prioritisation of capital and assist with long term planning to enable our 2025+ strategy.

Development of the Space Principles

Working groups with representatives from across faculties and divisions have driven the development of draft Space Principles for each of the four pillars. The Working Group discussions have been informed and strengthened by guided tours of spaces at UNSW and other universities, literature reviews, space-related data, focus groups, targeted student surveys and early engagement with stakeholders from the pilots.