The University of New South Wales has proposed a significant $171 million development to build a large, eleven-storey education facility at its Kensington campus. The facility aims to boost learning and research opportunities in the local community.
New Education Facility for Kensington Campus
The University of New South Wales is moving forward with its plans to construct a major new education building on its Kensington campus. This development, known as the G25 Education Building, is set to be an eleven-storey structure offering around 20,200 square metres of space for the university’s faculties.
The building will include various facilities designed to enhance the learning experience for students and staff. Plans show a basement level that will house plant rooms, bicycle storage, end-of-trip facilities for staff, and other amenities. The ground floor is intended to be a vibrant space, featuring a food and beverage area alongside informal learning zones where students can collaborate and study.
The upper levels of the building will be dedicated to flexible teaching and learning environments, adaptable to the different needs of various university departments. The design also incorporates a rooftop area with landscaped outdoor terraces, a multi-functional space that can be used for various events, and essential mechanical plant services.
Changes to Existing Site and Infrastructure
The development proposal also includes several changes to the current site. The new building will replace an existing on-ground car park. The project will involve excavating the site and removing some trees. However, the plans also detail landscaping improvements to enhance the overall look and feel of the campus.
Upgrades to existing infrastructure and essential services are also part of the proposal to support the new building. To improve accessibility within the campus, a new lift core will be constructed in the adjacent Botany Street Carpark, known as Building H25.
Strategic Location and Planning Context
The new G25 Education Building site is located at 8 High Street in Kensington, within the Randwick Local Government Area. Currently, the site is occupied by a surface car park, sections of Library Walk, and the loading dock area for the Australian Graduate School of Management.
The university campus is strategically positioned about six kilometres south-east of Sydney’s central business district, close to the Randwick Hospital Complex and the Royal Randwick Racecourse. The area benefits from good public transport links, including light rail services, making it accessible to the wider community.
This development is part of University of New South Wales’ broader campus renewal plans, which are outlined in the UNSW 2025 Strategy and aim to improve the Kensington campus’s educational, research, and public areas. The land is zoned SP2 Infrastructure—Educational Establishment under the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.
Alignment with Regional Strategies
The G25 Education Building is located within the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct, an area recognised in both the Greater Sydney Region Plan—A Metropolis of Three Cities and the Eastern City District Plan as a key centre for health, research, education, and innovation. Its proximity to major institutions like the Randwick Hospital Complex and the Royal Randwick Racecourse makes it an important hub of knowledge and activity.
The availability of public transport, such as the light rail, further enhances its connection to the broader Sydney metropolitan area. The proposal is a response to planning priorities aiming to deliver new educational infrastructure in strategic locations. It also aligns with the Randwick Collaboration Area Place Strategy, which encourages coordinated growth and investment in the health and education sectors within the region.
Planning Approval Process
The proposed development is classified as State Significant Development (SSD) under the State Environmental Planning Policy 1 (Planning Systems) 2021. This classification is due to its purpose as a tertiary institution building and its estimated development cost of $171,084,000.
The project’s planning has considered several important strategic documents, including Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012, the Greater Sydney Region Plan, the Eastern City District Plan, and the Randwick Collaboration Area Place Strategy.
The building’s design also incorporates Government Architect NSW’s Better Placed policy principles and includes the Connecting with Country framework to acknowledge the site’s cultural and environmental significance. Community feedback on the proposal is invited from 23 April 2025 to 20 May 2025.
Published Date 13-May-2025
