The construction phase of the Abercrombie Precinct Project, which includes a $180 million, state-of-the-art facility for the University of Sydney Business School, has begun.
The Hon. Barry O'Farrell, Premier of New South Wales, performed a ceremonial ground-breaking in the presence of the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Belinda Hutchinson AM, University of Sydney Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, and Professor Tyrone Carlin and Professor David Grant, Co-Deans of the Business School.
“This event is a significant milestone for the University of Sydney,” said University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence.
“The world-class facilities will benefit the entire University community, and support the University’s objective of providing a business school placed among the top-ranking universities in the world.”
Construction of the Abercrombie Precinct Project represents the most significant capital investment in the history of the Business School, and will provide students and staff with five floors of teaching, learning and administrative facilities, including a 550-seat lecture theatre, three 300-seat theatres, technologically-enabled learning hubs and student accommodation.
Construction of the facility will be carried out by John Holland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited that has been appointed as head contractor on the project.
John Holland has previously led construction on a number of tertiary infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of the Southbank Institute of Technology in Queensland, Urbanest student accommodation facilities in both Brisbane and Adelaide and the Medical Sciences buildings and Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania.
"Our partners in the construction phase have an impeccable track record in delivering world-class tertiary education facilities," said Co-Dean Professor Tyrone Carlin.
"The Business School is very pleased to have John Holland on board for this project, and we have every confidence that the new facilities will meet, or exceed, the standards set by other top-tier business schools from around the world."
The Abercrombie Precinct site is situated on the southern edge of the University's Darlington Campus, and is bordered by Darlington Lane to the north, Codrington Street to the east, Abercrombie Street to the south and Darlington Public School to the west.
