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The façade of Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new city campus is complete ahead of the wet season, capping off the building’s main protection against Darwin’s tropical heat and humidity.

Standing 40 metres tall, with a combination of vertical and sloping design features, the building includes curtain wall with porcelain tiles, horizontal aluminium louvres, and various types of cladding to reflect the harsh Darwin weather, while ensuring the iconic Boab tree is not overshadowed.

The milestone joins other achievements at the Education and Community Precinct, also known by the Larrakia name Danala, including disassembling the two cranes and sealing the building against the elements.

The Australian Government has contributed $97.3 million to the $250 million campus project, which is the centrepiece of the Darwin City Deal. 

Construction of the city campus was also funded by the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), with a $151.5 million NAIF loan supporting the University’s growth.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the new campus would be a cornerstone of future innovation and education, while also contributing to the economic growth of the Territory.

“The infrastructure we are delivering today will play a key role in the Territory of tomorrow – especially with this environmental design protecting the façade of Charles Darwin University’s new city campus from the harsh Darwin tropical heat and humidity,” Ms King said.

“The Australian Government is pleased to be delivering this project in this impressive new precinct that will bolster the territory’s economy for years to come.” 

The façade is primarily made of porcelain cladding, which is engineered to endure – it is non-combustible, absorbs minimal water, resists high wind loads and UV and keeps infrastructure cool by reflecting heat back into the atmosphere, which also protects surrounding outdoor spaces from the emitted heat.

Architectural and façade design elements will provide a shaded, well insulated, solar controlled, and sealed thermal envelope. Other heat mitigation techniques include sustainable landscape and heat island reduction design. 

The main structure of the building is separated by an air gap from the façade, and insulation and double-glazed windows further prevent the transfer of heat between surfaces and indoors. 

Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King said the new campus would enhance educational opportunities in Darwin and contribute to sustainable urban development.

“The Australian Government is proud to partner with the NT Government and Charles Darwin University to continue to complete the high-quality facilities for the new city campus,” Ms King said.

“I’m delighted to see this key learning and teaching institution in Northern Australia is not only gearing up for greater educational outcomes with its new facilities but also mitigating against the harsh elements of Darwin’s tropical climate.

“Cool designs make for a cool campus in more ways than one and that means a better environment for everyone studying and working there.”

Northern Territory Minister for Skills, Training and International Education Joel Bowden said the campus’ modern facilities will benefit both CDU students and the greater Darwin community.

“We want more students from the Territory, interstate and overseas to come to Darwin and further their tertiary studies in our world class facilities,” Mr Bowden said.

“CDU’s new modern and innovative campus design will go a long way in attracting more students to the Top End as this landmark building continues to transform the Darwin city centre.

“The new educational precinct will revitalise our CBD, support local businesses and create more jobs.”

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the environmentally sustainable design ensures the city campus will endure Darwin’s changing seasons.

“In collaboration with the CSIRO Darwin Living Lab, the Precinct has been designed to weather our seven Larrakia seasons, from our monsoonal storms of the wet season to the heat of the dry,” Professor Bowman said.

“Catering to Darwin’s unique climate means the campus’ intelligent design is fit-for-purpose. 

“Our new city campus will not only provide students with modern teaching and learning spaces during study hours, but they can come here on weekends and enjoy the outdoor sports courts, sit underneath the Boab and experience Darwin’s thriving arts scene and cultural heritage indoors.”

A yellow 33-metre tall Potain MR-225 Luffing crane and a blue 50-metre tall Comansa 21CM335 Freestanding Tower Crane were dismantled earlier this month, with the former mainly used to assemble the campus’ façade and the latter to carry materials to the top levels.

With the building now sealed against the coming wet weather, works continue with services fit-out, civil and drainage works, hard landscaping, general architectural finishes, metal works and roofing works, with main construction expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2024.

Super structure works for Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new $250 million Education and Community Precinct are now complete, with a topping out ceremony held on-site finalising the milestone.

At an event held today, CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman joined Assistant Regional Development and Education Minister, Senator Anthony Chisholm, Halikos Managing Director Shane Dignan and Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) representative Cathie McBean to celebrate this achievement.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the CDU community looks forward to the vibrant possibilities and transformative opportunities that the new city campus will bring.

“The Education and Community Precinct has progressed significantly, and it won’t be long before Territorians are celebrating the opening of CDU’s new city campus,” Professor Bowman said.

“We are building a brighter future of education for our students. This city campus will be a place where they’ll find the tools, knowledge, and support they need to make a real difference in the world.

“We are looking forward to the next milestone with anticipation and the impact the City Campus will have for the future of Charles Darwin University, in the Territory and beyond.”

The project’s final suspended concrete slab pour on level eight, 33 metres above ground, was honoured with a gift of a tree according to tradition.

According to Halikos, 7920 cubic metres of concrete slab and 2180 cubic metres of concrete cores and columns have been poured to date, with a total of 230,560 hours of site labour employed to get the structure out of the foundations and up to level eight.

Darwin-based construction company Halikos will now continue work on the external façade, internal fit-out and commence the landscaping works in the public realm –construction is expected to be completed second quarter 2024.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the CDU city campus construction was already bolstering local jobs to support the greater Darwin community.

“The Australian Government has contributed $97.3 million to this critical project, which is the centrepiece initiative of the Darwin City Deal,” Minister King said.

“Our commitment is supporting much-needed construction jobs while delivering an impressive new precinct that will bolster the Territory’s economy for years to come, by unlocking educational opportunities that will bring in students and staff from far and wide.

“I look forward to seeing the precinct continue to come to life, supporting more construction hours while delivering a lasting piece of infrastructure that will bolster local amenity.”

Construction of the city campus was also funded by the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), with a $151.5 million NAIF loan supporting the university’s growth.

Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Education Anthony Chisholm said he is thrilled to witness the remarkable progress being made on the city campus site.

“Since my last visit to the site in February, it’s fantastic to be back in Darwin to witness the exceptional progress being made on what will be a great addition to the Darwin CBD,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“This new state-of-the-art precinct will host teaching and research facilities, an art gallery and a new library to expand local education and research opportunities – taking the Territory’s education sector to the next level.

“The Albanese Government aims to ensure all Australians have the same access to high quality facilities to further their education, regardless of where they live. We’re proud to partner with Charles Darwin University to do just that.”

Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the new Precinct had many benefits for the Territory.

“This new facility in the heart of the CBD will be a significant economic boost to Darwin and the Northern Territory, while also creating new educational pathways for local students and those on exchange,” Minister Fyles said.

“The Education and Community Precinct is a landmark project at the core of the Darwin City Deal which the Northern Territory Government is proudly supporting. Once completed, this Precinct will further the development and liveability of Darwin as the capital of Northern Australia.”

The CDU Education and Community Campus, also known by the Larrakia name Danala, is the centrepiece of the Darwin City Deal – a 10-year partnership between the Australian and Northern Territory governments and the City of Darwin to drive a more vibrant and liveable tropical capital city.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is working with Larrakia Nation to restore place names and revitalise language across its campuses in the Northern Territory.

As a part of the process, CDU will co-name all new buildings and facilities with place names working with Aboriginal leaders to ensure they are written with the correct grammatical structure, concepts and vocabulary.

In partnership with Larrakia Nation, CDU will name its Education and Community Precinct, Danala the name for dillybag which represents a place to house knowledge.

The new Education and Community Precinct, or Danala, is the centrepiece of the Darwin City Deal – a 10-year partnership between the Australian and Northern Territory governments and the City of Darwin to drive a more vibrant and liveable tropical capital city.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said it was important that its buildings across its campuses incorporated the naming practises of First Nations people in the Territory.

“Greater integration between place-naming and Aboriginal culture and languages can help all Territorians be better connected to the land they are living in,” Professor Bowman said.

“During the last centuries Indigenous lands were remapped and renamed by colonial powers across Australia, so it’s incredibly important that we restore place names to First Nations people in the Territory.

Larrakia Elder-in-Residence Bilawara Lee (Aunty B) said the new CDU campus building was named in consultation with Larrakia Nation.

“Charles Darwin University, students and staff of the university will weave a strong spiritual danala, a dilly-bag where they will carry knowledge and tools as they travel along a successful and fulfilling career,” Aunty B said.

CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor First Nations Leadership Reuben Bolt said naming buildings in Indigenous language was the start of offering more inclusion in education for First Nations people in the Territory.

“We’re making a commitment to name the Territory’s university campuses, facilities and buildings with Indigenous place names,” Professor Bolt said.

“This is a start to encourage and facilitate more inclusion of Aboriginal people, language and custom in place-naming throughout the Territory and in the education sector.”

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the precinct’s new name, Danala, is a fitting description for a place that will bring students, visitors, academics and other community members together to learn and grow.

“The infrastructure we are delivering today will play a key role in the Territory of tomorrow – in its social, cultural and economic futures – making it important to ensure greater inclusion of First Nations people, language and customs in place-naming,” Minister King said.

NT Minister for Business, Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby said the naming of the Charles Darwin University’s CDU Campus as ‘Danala’ is a great initiative to help keep traditional language alive in the Northern Territory.

“As the new name suggests, the campus will certainly be a place to house knowledge, where students from near and far will gain the skills and education they need to thrive,” Minister Kirby said.

Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said this is a fantastic milestone for Darwin’s largest construction project, which will position us as a future centre of educational excellence.

“Danala will attract students from all over the country and the world to Darwin, where they will learn so much more than what’s in their chosen qualifications – and that includes the rich First Nations cultures and languages,” Mr Gosling said.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for organisations wishing to tender on the design, development, and operation of new student accommodation in the Darwin CBD.

CDU is inviting submissions for purpose-built student accommodation, or the provision of student accommodation from suitable existing or redeveloped buildings in Darwin.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said the new Education and Community Precinct in Cavenagh Street, which is due to be completed in 2024, will attract additional international and domestic students, who need suitable accommodation. 

“CDU is looking to expand its current student accommodation options over the coming years to better cater to the needs of the student community in the Territory,” Professor Bowman said.

Professor Bowman said some of the projected demand could be met through developing and operating facilities on the site of the new CBD campus, but additional capacity will also be required by developing new facilities on private land or leasing rooms in existing or re-purposed facilities.

“We know that many students have struggled to find suitable accommodation options close to the city and the university,” he said. 

“As we see student numbers increase, particularly from international and domestic students, demand for student accommodation will only continue, and we don’t want that to be a barrier to study.

“Arriving in Australia as an international student can be incredibly daunting for many students, so this is about supporting students with that transition and ensuring they have adequate housing to succeed while they are at university.”

It is estimated that around 1,200 students are currently living in private accommodation in Darwin, with the projected demand for additional student accommodation to cater for the growth in international students estimated to be between 250 and 300 beds in 2025, increasing by a further 120 by 2028.

CDU is also looking to better support its international student community by offering additional accommodation options to support students to find suitable accommodation. CDU will also be looking at expanding student accommodation options in Alice Springs.

Interested organisations are asked to register their interest with Tenderlink at tenderlink.com/cdu