Woden CIT building plans endorsed by community: survey

The ACT government has published the findings of feedback on preliminary design options for the major development, which has an estimated price tag of up to $250 million.

The overwhelming majority of the more than 400 respondents to the survey expressed support for a new 6500-student campus in the heart of Woden, a project announced by Chief Minister Andrew Barr in November last year.

Respondents were canvassed on four options on the possible configuration of buildings on the campus, with the choices ranging from a single high-rise tower to a shorter, wider complex which spanned most of the site.

The option to spread buildings across the site was the clear favourite, receiving the endorsement of almost half of the respondents.

The option of a single tower rising over the corner of Bradley and Callam Street was the preferred option of fewer than 8 per cent of respondents.

The community backed buildings of between six-and-12-storeys on the site, although there was concern the campus could block sunlight to parts of Woden or become "dark and shady" next to its high-rise neighbours.

The survey showed the community was concerned about the potential loss of green space, with one resident suggesting the roofs of the campus' buildings could include extra greenery.

Tertiary education minister Chris Steel said the government would in the coming weeks seek interest from architecture firms to draw up more detailed designs for the campus, which would incorporate feedback from the survey.

Construction work was scheduled to start next year, with the project expected to support some 520 jobs during the building phase, according to the government.

Students are expected to be on the campus by 2024. The new precinct will effectively replace the old Reid CIT, which is set to be redeveloped into the University of New South Wales' second Canberra campus over the next 15 years.

Fiona Carrick, a former Woden Valley Community Council president who is running as an independent in Murrumbidgee at this year's ACT election, supported the project, but said the government should be considering other locations for the new campus.

In a letter to Mr Barr, Ms Carrick suggested Lovett Tower and Borrowdale House in Woden town square could be bought and repurposed as a new CIT campus and arts centre.

"While I welcome your commitment to a CIT in the Woden bus interchange, it would be better placed centrally to support the community and small business with an active town square," she said.