Milestone acheived as UTAS Library opens

With more than 300 workers involved in the build over 20 months, and more than 30,000 books moved from its former Newnham campus, the new Library and Student Services building at Inveresk is officially open.

Designed by John Wardle Architects, the build was undertaken by a local workforce from Vos Construction, with over 150 individuals including staff, students and members of the wider community involved in the co-design process, providing invaluable feedback on the vision for the building design and functionality. First Nations voices were also an integral part of the consultation process to embed indigenous experience and knowledge within the spaces.

Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said the building, the first significant milestone in the $300 million relocation of the campus, is a landmark achievement for Launceston and the surrounding regions.

“Moving UTAS’s northern campus to a central, accessible location in Launceston will have great benefits for students and will create a vibrant hub in the heart of the city,” Mrs Archer said.

“We know students in regional communities like ours face barriers to completing higher education and building world-class facilities like this in northern Tasmania will go a long way to helping remove those barriers.”

UTAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black said the new facilities were open to the local community, not just University staff and students.

“This is about access to the Library and cultural facilities for the whole community. Anybody who wants to access it, it’s here for you,” Professor Black said.

Artwork is an essential component of the new Library, with art commissioned for the building and collections showcased to inspire the questions: what are all the different ways of knowing around us? What can nature, our surrounding lands and waterways teach us? How can we ask better questions, listen deeply, and be open to learning in more ways?

The artwork throughout the building includes feature carpets from palawa emerging artist Caleb Nichols-Mansell, a suspended sculpture, cultural objects from the Riawunna Collection, ceramics from the Fine Art Collection, video artwork and immersive artwork from artists such as Tony Ruffels, Les Blakebrough AM, Jeff Mincham AM and Gwyn Hanssen Pigott AM.

The Federal Government has committed $130 million to the UTAS relocation project under the $536 million Launceston City Deal.

Two additional buildings, the River’s Edge Building and Willis St Building, are currently under construction and due for completion in late 2022 and 2023, respectively.