New 450-bed residential college proposed for University of Otago

The University of Otago has unveiled plans to build a $90 million residential college.

The new 450-bed residential college, which is named after former student Te Rangi Hiroa, will include seven levels spread over four wings. The extra capacity will meet the expected increase in student enrolments, and is scheduled to be operational by 2023.

The college will be built on university-owned land on the corner of Albany and Forth streets and will replace the college of the same name, which is part of the Dunedin Hospital rebuild.

The current 125-bed college, which opened in 2014, is likely to close at the end of 2022.

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University of Otago vice-chancellor professor Harlene Hayne said the new college was an opportunity to build on the Te Rangi Hiroa culture developed by staff and students over the past five years.

"It is important that we respect the taonga gifted to the university by creating a facility that can proudly bear the name of Te Rangi Hiroa."

Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck) was the university's first Māori graduate. His descendants gifted the use of his name for the existing college.

University chief operating officer Stephen Willis said adding more beds would help the university cater for the forecast increase in New Zealand school leavers.

The extra capacity would also allow other residential colleges to be upgraded.

Otago's residential colleges were either university owned and operated, or formally affiliated, which excluded not-for-profit providers.

Like all University of Otago owned and operated colleges, the new college would have staff living on site, supported by residential assistants, administration and reception staff, its own dedicated kitchen and dining room staff, academic tutors and evening security.

The new college will be built on the site of the university's Albany St recording studio, which is to be demolished early next year.

New recording studios are being built and are scheduled to open in February 2020.