Uni opens research site in city

Peter Fehl has overseen the development of the Newmarket campus. Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland University officially opens its 5.2ha Newmarket Campus tomorrow although students have been there for many months.

Engineering dean Professor Nic Smith welcomed the expansion.

"From tomorrow's transport solutions to leading-edge science in composite materials, engineering has a central role to play in the future for all of us and I'm extremely proud to see this wonderful new research space opened," he said of the ex-Lion Brewery site, where development will continue over the next 30 years.

The four research themes for postgraduate study on the site are health technologies, manufacturing and materials, novel technologies in manufacturing, and sustainable energy systems.

Science dean Professor John Hosking said the research opportunities at the new campus underlined the university's commitment to contributing to the nation's future through a focus on the science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

"Both students and staff will benefit from this dedicated research space with a clear focus in these vital areas of research," he said.

Professor Stuart McCutcheon, the university's vice-chancellor, said the opening would be a milestone for the institution. Built environment, structures, earthquake, fluids and transport were key engineering areas, he said.

The purchase and planning project has been headed by the university's property services director, Peter Fehl.

In 2013, he said the university would look to sell the 32ha Tamaki Innovation Campus in Glen Innes and the 9ha Education Faculty Epsom campus because the Newmarket buy, settled on May 31 that year, meant those two parcels were inappropriate geographically and physically, in suburbia far from the city campus.