A new era in community engagement began at The University of Queensland Ipswich Campus last week, with the commencement of the Boilerhouse redevelopment.
Hutchinson Builders arrived at the Campus last week to commence the Boilerhouse redevelopment project, valued at $2.1 million, which will see the Challinor Centre’s former engine room transformed to contemporary offices and community meeting space.
The Boilerhouse will house the Campus’ UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre, formerly the Community Service and Research Centre, and will provide a dedicated meeting place for community activity and engagement within a focused academic and research environment.
Partly funded by the Bremer Business Park, Swanbank Enterprise Park, Bendigo Bank and Ipswich City Council, the Boilerhouse redevelopment is a collaborative project between the Ipswich community, corporate partners and the University.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Rix said the redevelopment plan for the Boilerhouse would retain the aesthetic and architectural heritage of the building while creating an innovative and contemporary working environment.
“With approximately 418 square metres of usable floor area, the redevelopment of the Boilerhouse will provide a vibrant, modern facility, which embraces the heritage significance of the building,” Professor Rix said.
“Preservation and adaptive reuse of this important heritage building was always a priority for the University.
“The project is a significant development for the Ipswich Campus, not only in terms of a relocation for the Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre, but also through its provision of meeting space dedicated for use by the Ipswich community.”
The Boilerhouse is a major heritage landmark, with its chimney being visible from all parts of the Ipswich Campus and beyond. Positioned in close proximity to the heart of the Campus, it was once the heartbeat of the former Challinor Centre, with its engines providing the institution’s power.
Constructed in 1913, the Boilerhouse housed an engine that provided electrical power, and boilers that produced steam for the adjacent laundry. It was a single storey building consisting of an engine room, boiler room, coal bunkers and a detached chimney stack 24 metres high.
The redevelopment will include the retention of one of the two Babcock and Wilcox boilers, as a design feature of a large breakout room and foyer area. The second boiler will be donated to the Workshops Rail Museum. A new floor will also be added within the large open interior space and will include academic offices, research rooms, meeting rooms and administration.
The project will be completed by January 2006.
Media inquiries: Loretta Porche at UQ Ipswich (3381 1068, 0418 772 819).
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