Antony Perry
27 January 2017: The University of Canberra’s newest student accommodation facility is undergoing its finishing touches ahead of welcoming students next week.
Hundreds of new and returning students will call UC Lodge home from 1 February.
The 496-bed facility is located in the middle of the University campus, providing residents easy access to their learning spaces the growing amenities the campus has to offer.
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UC Lodge is the University of Canberra's newest student accommodation facility. Photo: Antony Perry.
UC Lodge consists of an eight-storey main building and a seven-storey annex. A combination of single bed and multi-share dwellings are split across 353 apartments.
University of Canberra Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Infrastructure Vicki Williams said it was an exciting time for students to be living on campus.
“Students really value the opportunity to live on campus while they study,” Mrs Williams said. “Not only is it convenient, but the camaraderie they share enhances their learning experience.
“With so much happening on campus at the moment, including the construction of the University of Canberra Public Hospital as part of our growing Health Precinct, the University is only going to become a more vibrant and enjoyable place to be.”
UC Lodge is the University’s second major student accommodation project to open in the last three years. It is similar in design to Cooper Lodge, the 416-bed facility that opened in 2014.
The University now has a total of 2,476 beds available on campus – an increase of 11 per cent on 2016.
The new facility boasts common areas, cooking facilities, private study rooms, a theatre room, laundry services, 24-hour on-site staff and a rooftop terrace.
University student Luke Favero has been living in Cooper Lodge since it opened but is relocating to UC Lodge this year. He said living on campus had added another layer of enjoyment to his university experience.
“Living on campus has been a great experience,” he said. “I come from a small country town in New South Wales and UC has really become my home away from home.
“The support services in place to assist students who aren’t familiar with the University and Canberra are fantastic. The staff really go out of their way to make students’ experience living on campus an enjoyable one.”
Mrs Williams said UC Lodge reinforces the University’s policy of providing an accommodation guarantee to all first year students.
The facility, she added, would help meet growing demand for on-campus accommodation.
“We’re excited to have so many new and returning students living on campus in 2017,” she said.
Learn more about UC Lodge.
