A multi-million dollar campus redevelopment has begun at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
The beginning of the construction of the first building in the polytech's Campus Directional Plan, the yet-to-be-named multi-storied teaching and learning space, was formally blessed by polytech kaumatua Tamati Tata during a dawn ceremony in September.
The long-termgoal of the multi-million dollar campus redevelopment project is to create modern flexible learning spaces with both internal and external pedestrian streets enabling a better flow through the Windermere campus with an identifiable 'heart' in the centre of the campus for students and staff to enjoy.
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic corporate service director Anthony Robertson said this was an exciting time in the project.
"The polytechnic's Campus Directional Plan spans 10 - 15 years to facilitate current needs and growth.
"The aim is to replace many of the relocatable buildings, create a new campus 'heart', providing connectivity of the campus which will link new and existing buildings, and creating new landscaped areas for students and staff to enjoy.
"It is pleasing to see the plan materialising into an actual build."
Marra Construction Ltd, one of the Bay of Plenty's largest construction companies, has been appointed to construct the build.
Bevan Wansbrough, project manager at Marra Construction, said the company was proud to be selected as the main contractor for the project.
"We are looking forward to working with the team to provide the polytechnic with a quality learning environment."
This first building, designed by architects Chow Hill and project managed by Greenstone Group, will cater for some specialist areas such as the creative arts, music and radio, and architectural technology programmes.
It will also encompass modern flexible learning environments for all subject areas, with students and staff having access to the relaxed informal learning areas set up alongside the building's internal pedestrian lane.
The new build is expected to be completed in the later months of 2016 ready for student occupation in Semester One 2017.
