Abel Smith Lecture Theatre

The new 366 seat Abel Smith Lecture Theatre opened for classes again following a $1.5million dollar refurbishment. The iconic Lecture Theatre has been closed since late 2007 to enable the interior to be completely rebuilt and a new roof and dome installed.

The Abel Smith Lecture Theatre was originally constructed in 1967 at a cost of $120,000 and named in honour of the then Governor of Queensland, Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith.

The refurbishment has seen the interior of the Lecture Theatre completely rebuilt with a new seating, wall treatments and lighting. Dual data projection, visualisers and modern lecterns have been provided as part of the upgrade of the audio-visual teaching equipment provided in the lecture Theatre. Glass walls between the foyer area and the Lecture Theatre provide improved visibility into the Lecture Theatre

The foyer area has been refurbished and made more attractive with informal seating and new toilets.

The refurbishment of the Abel Smith Lecture Theatre is part of a major program for upgrade of teaching spaces across the University. Over $25.0m dollars has been spent in the past 5 years to upgrade teaching facilities.

Enhanced Student Charge Projects

A number of the teaching space projects funded under the University’s Enhanced Student Charge Teaching Space refurbishment Program were completed in time for classes at the beginning of 2008 or will be constructed over the summer vacation 2008/09.

Completed projects included the Chemistry Building Learning Podium, upgrade of teaching spaces for Collaborative Clinical Teaching Ipswich campus, and construction of the Science Learning Centre, Priestly Building.

Learning and Teaching Performance Funds projects

The University committed in 2007 $3.2m of the Learning and Teaching Performance Funds towards upgrading teaching laboratories. Projects included upgrading of the School of Music recording studio, refurbishment of the Bioengineering Teaching laboratory and a range of other teaching laboratories for the School of Engineering, and upgrading of the teaching laboratory in the Archaeology Museum. Funding was also committed towards construction of the GeLL Laboratory for the Faculty of NRAVS at the Gatton campus and refurbishment of the architectural studios for the School of Geographical Sciences, Planning and Architecture.

Enterprise Lecture Recording

The implementation of Phase 1 of an Enterprise Lecture Recording System involving the installation of the system in 12 Lecture Theatres at all campuses was completed in time for semester 1/2008. The system worked well during the semester with over 85,000 hits being made on the site by the time Examinations commenced.  Further details on lecture recording at UQ can be found on the ITS website.