Design tender for Education and Community Precinct goes live

Charles Darwin University (CDU) has released the latest tender for the design of the $250 million Education and Community Precinct, a key element of the Darwin City Deal.

The 32,000-square-metre, seven-level project has moved through the masterplan, concept design and scheme design phases.

CDU is now advertising for a Principal Design Consultant and sub-consultants to progress the project through the design development and construction documentation phases. 

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said it was a major multi-million dollar contract that would span three years of work until the project was complete. 

“That means jobs opportunities for architects and building engineers, but also highly specialised skills such as wind engineering, acoustics and wayfinding,” Mr Tudge said.

“Every local job we support means one less worry for another Australian and their family, more reliable work on the books for local companies and more cash flowing through local businesses and communities doing it tough due to COVID-19.

Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner said the Principal Design Consultant would need to have a strong presence in Darwin, continuing the Deal’s focus of creating local jobs using local businesses.

“Construction of this new precinct is expected to support 700 jobs and I want the majority of those jobs going to locals," Mr Gunner said.  

“The Territory is the nation’s comeback capital and will emerge from the coronavirus crisis with a jobs-led recovery.

“We threw the kitchen sink at saving jobs, and now we are on the road to recovery we will keep doing it with jobs.”

Senator for the Northern Territory Dr Sam McMahon welcomed the news, saying the new campus would be a game-changer for Darwin.

“Building this world-class university campus is also expected to provide a $600 million boost to the Darwin economy over a 30-year period, create an estimated 54 ongoing jobs every year and provide a long-term boost to local businesses,” Senator McMahon said.

“Through this City Deal, we are emphasising some of the best this great city has to offer while creating sustainable infrastructure and jobs to stimulate the local economy.

“That’s exactly what this precinct will do, by attracting more students to the city and allow the University to provide even more specialised courses. 

“This means even more people will get a taste of what makes Darwin a great place to live, study and work and I am excited to see this major tender go out.”

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks said the tender also outlined design principles that will help create contemporary learning spaces in an iconic building designed to incorporate the latest environmental technology and science.

“Principles include how to activate the precinct’s street fronts, creating safe and welcoming pedestrian links and how the use of small retail spaces, community activity zones, attractive seating and building entries can make a positive visitor experience,” Professor Maddocks said.

“Another principle covers how landscaping could create green walls as well as attractive and environmentally sustainable landscaping at ground level.    

“The new Principal Design Consultant will be encouraged to engage with the Darwin Living Lab (DLL) and its work when developing heat mitigation, energy efficiency and smart building measures, as the new precinct represents an ideal opportunity to further our knowledge on these measures.”

The City Deal is a joint initiative of the Australian and Northern Territory governments and the City of Darwin.