Government gives Lendlease nod to build Woden CIT

The ACT Government has selected Lendlease Building as its preferred contractor to design and construct the new multi-level CIT campus in the Woden Town Centre that will cater for about 6500 students.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Steel said Lendlease had a long history in Woden Town Centre and was experienced locally and internationally delivering large, complex infrastructure projects.

“We are confident their expertise in design and construction will support the successful delivery of a sustainable, innovative and modern CIT campus with digitally-enabled learning spaces, activated common areas and integrated green spaces,” Mr Steel said

He said the project would create about 520 jobs and strengthen Canberra’s position as the knowledge capital of Australia.

Key facilities will include ‘smart’ classrooms, state-of-the-art simulated learning environments, commercial kitchens, hands-on training spaces in IT, cyber security, hospitality and business.

The campus, sited on the present bus interchange between Grand Central Towers and Bradley Street, will also include Youth Foyer housing to support vulnerable young people undertaking training or study.

Mr Steel said targets had been set to attract more women into construction roles and strengthen the participation of Indigenous enterprises.

“This campus is for VET students and will be built by VET students with local trainees and apprentices employed to gain valuable skills on this major construction site,” he said.

Lendlease will work closely with the government to finalise the design of the new campus, along with input from community and stakeholder working groups on topics such as sustainability, the building’s functions, the public realm within the precinct and cultural inclusions.

“We’ve been engaging with the community on this project for the past two years to inform the design at each stage, including the current Estate Development Plan,” Mr Steel said.

Key findings from the most recent consultation showed the community wants public spaces around Woden that are clean and well maintained, open and well lit, and that it feels safer where shops and cafes open out to a public area.

Respondents said the spaces and places around the transport interchange and new CIT campus should have lots of trees and green spaces, new food and beverage options and easy access to local business, services and public toilets, and signage to help visitors navigate the precinct.

The project’s Estate Development Plan has recently been lodged and is now available for public comment until 12 May.

Mr Steel said the plan responded to community feedback about new path and road connections through the precinct, including a new local access road between Bowes and Bradley streets, disability parking and pick-up and drop-off areas on Bradley Street to access the interchange and the CIT campus.

Improved public green spaces will include a new northern park with bike storage cages and well lit, safe connections between the public transport interchange and the CIT building to support the use of the campus at all times of the day.

“This project is re-shaping the future of the town centre and I encourage the community to have their say now and in future stages of the project’s design process,” Mr Steel said.

There will be further opportunities to comment on the concept designs for the CIT campus and transport interchange in the near future.

The government says construction of CIT will begin later this year after the completion of the new bus interchange. New students will be welcomed to the campus at the beginning of 2025.

To learn more and give feedback, visit the project site or the Woden Renewal Hub in the Woden Town Square.