In spite of the recent Kaikoura earthquake, the University is able to offer good quality accommodation to over 3,000 students in its Halls of Residence for the 2017 academic year.
Of the University’s 14 Halls of Residence, the only one to require further work to improve earthquake performance is Boulcott Hall. Boulcott Hall is leased by the University. In 2013, the University required the developer to provide the building as near as reasonably possible to the seismic standard of new buildings (100% of New Building Standard or NBS).
However, late last week, Beca, the University’s consultant engineers, advised that they had observed localised areas of potential vulnerability in some precast concrete floor units based on learnings from the Kaikoura earthquake. This potential vulnerability is insufficient to classify the building as ‘earthquake prone’. Nevertheless, following discussions with the owner, the building will have precautionary enhancement work undertaken to further improve its seismic performance.
The safety of our students and staff is paramount and we are pleased that Beca has identified this vulnerability and that we are able to carry out retrofitting that will ensure Boulcott Hall continues to meet Victoria’s high standards around safety and earthquake resilience.
In order to perform the remediation work quickly and with minimal disruption, the University has today (Monday 13 February) decided that it will not offer places in Boulcott Hall during the first semester of 2017. All of the students who were to stay in Boulcott Hall have been offered places in other Halls of Residence that provide a similar style of accommodation and are in or close to the CBD.
The capacity to reallocate students to other Halls while still providing the type of accommodation that they want, is the result of a decision by Victoria in 2016 to add the 320-bed Capital Hall to the University’s portfolio of Halls of Residence. We have also leased additional beds for this year at 222 Willis Street.