Campus and Locations
The main University of the Sunshine Coast campus is located at Sippy Downs in Queensland, Australia. The university also has teaching facilities in Noosa, and operates an education and research facility at Dilli Village on Fraser Island. The Sippy Downs campus is approximately 100 km north of Brisbane, the state capital. The campus is a 100-hectare flora and fauna reserve, and borders the Mooloolah River National Park.
The Sippy Downs site was a former sugar cane farm, located at the geographical heart of the Sunshine Coast and its shires, in close proximity to the Bruce Highway and other major transport routes.
The buildings on campus have received 30 awards for planning, architecture and construction. In 2000 the university received the Royal Australian Institute of Architects President's Award, and in 1997 the Library was awarded the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings.
All buildings on campus focus on environmentally sustainable design to suit the subtropical climate of the Sunshine Coast. Buildings have been designed with strategies for passive lighting and natural ventilation to minimise the use of non-renewable energy.
In May 2007, two of the university's newest buildings were opened, the A$12 million science building and A$13 million Chancellery. In July 2007 the A$10 million indoor sports stadium was opened by Federal Education, Science and Training Minister Julie Bishop. A year later, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan opened the A$13 million Health and Sport Centre, which features testing and research laboratories, a gymnasium and public psychology clinic.
In August 2010 construction commenced on a $5 million semi-industrial shared space facility for engineering and paramedic science students. The facility opened in May 2011 and features specialised equipment and large, open spaces suitable for medical emergency simulations and a wide variety of engineering tests and experiments. It also has several laboratories and tutorial rooms. Also in August 2010, the construction of a child care centre on campus was announced, which will provide 75 child care spaces from early 2011.
In November 2010, construction started on the university pool complex, which includes a 50m heated Olympic swimming pool for research and community use. The complex was officially opened on 19 October 2011, by Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves. Funding for the $2.1 million project was provided by the Queensland State Government, the university, community donations, and through in-kind support.
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