The new 27,000m sq structure, to be built on the site of the demolished Hilgendorf Building but with a larger footprint, will house up to 700 staff from Lincoln’s faculty of agriculture and life sciences, AgResearch scientists and administrators, and with space leased to DairyNZ.
Acting vice chancellor Bruce McKenzie said the facility would allow staff and students from Lincoln and AgResearch to work alongside each other, Lincoln PhD students to be supervised by AgResearch staff and courses to be broadened.
“You will see AgResearch staff alongside Lincoln staff.
“It means a closer relationship with students and greater opportunity to work in a wider range of areas.”
One area where there would be synergy was access to AgResearch weed scientists for Lincoln researchers and students, an area of expertise not currently available on campus.
McKenzie said this closer working relationship could allow the curriculum to be broadened to include different aspects, such as agronomy.
“The broader depth I believe will be an attraction not just to our students, but it will be a significant attraction to international students.”
AgResearch will invest $80 million and Lincoln the balance in the new $206 million building, due for completion in 2019 and ultimately to be part of the Lincoln science hub.
McKenzie said that hub would eventually extend to the other side of Springs Rd when Plant and Food Research, Landcare and Dairy NZ shift on to the site.
“The future direction of Lincoln will certainly involve partnerships with AgResearch, Plant and Food Research, Landcare and DairyNZ. This building is the first instalment of that partnership.”
There was also consideration of a primary industries commercial business park being developed in the vicinity of the hub.
McKenzie said the research hub has attracted it first sizeable research project, the details of which would be announced in the coming weeks.
Others were being worked on.
