Introducing the Digital Screen Campus

Once complete, the site will host full-service, commercial-standard production facilities on one site benefiting local and international projects of all sizes and attracting creative talent to Waitaha Canterbury and Aotearoa New Zealand, while expanding UC's teaching and research capabilities in Digital Screen Production.

The University looks forward to welcoming the first Bachelor of Digital Screen students in February 2023.

We encourage our neighbours to reach out with any questions on the campus redevelopment - you can contact us here. The University welcomed the first Bachelor of Digital Screen students in February 2023.

What's happening on campus?

Campus redevelopment to begin

In early October 2022, UC's resource consent application was approved by the Christchurch City Council. 

The application outlined the University's proposal to develop the existing Dovedale Campus into a Digital Screen Campus (DSC) - a mixed educational, research and commercial operation.

The redevelopment will be split into three 'phases' that will be completed over the next three years.

Phase one involves the refurbishment of four existing buildings (below) which will be used to support years one and two of the programme's associated Bachelor of Digital Screen (Hons): 

• Education Music (ED01)
• Ōtākaro (ED03)
• Henry Field (ED08)
• Jack Mann (ED10)

Ōtākaro will be the first cab off the ranks. Internal refurbishment began Monday 19 September and is anticipated to be complete in April 2023. The construction team will work between 7am-6pm, Monday to Friday. Depending on progress, the team may choose to work the occasional Saturday.

Noise
Given the location, and the fact the work will be contained within the building itself, we don’t anticipate noise to be an issue for our Dovedale neighbours, staff and the students living in our Hayashi and Sonoda halls of residence.

There will be intermittent use of hand tools, including saws and nail guns however, so we encourage anyone who may be disrupted by noise relating to work in Ōtākaro to email screencampus@canterbury.ac.nz.
The team will work as quickly as possible to resolve issues raised.

All works, and sound generated as a result, will comply with the Christchurch City Council’s Resource Management Act.

All work under the Ōtākaro redevelopment is permitted as it is unrelated to the University’s resource consent application for the Dovedale Campus. A decision on the application is expected soon.

Outcomes
Once complete, Ōtākaro will be home to our DSC teaching staff.
The building will also house teaching, postgraduate and meeting spaces, computer labs, visual effects (VFX) suites, a motion capture room and more.

Start dates for the work being undertaken on the remaining buildings; Education Music, Henry Field and Jack Mann, will be shared in due course.

Frequently asked questions

When will construction begin?

The planning work is ongoing and the project will take place in three phases. Phase one involves the refurbishment of existing buildings on Dovedale campus, beginning September 2022 and into 2023. The later phases involve the construction of new facilities, this is estimated to take place over 2023 and 2024, following design and consenting.

When will construction finish?

The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2024.

Will there be noise during construction?

It is not uncommon with construction projects for noise to be generated under certain circumstances by construction techniques and / or vehicle movements. Once plans are developed, the project team will work with neighbours to ensure disturbance is minimised.
As partof the resource consent there will be conditions around construction noise.

Will use of the Digital Screen Campus generate noise?

This is unlikely, outside of the movement of people in and around the campus itself.
Given the purpose of the facility and the specialist acoustic treatments involved, noise is expected to be contained once construction is complete.

Will street parking be affected?

The development will require the removal of a small number of on-street car parking on Dovedale Avenue and Waimairi Road to accommodate new vehicle access to the site, these will be replaced with additional street parks however, as a result of two vehicle acess closures to the campus on the west end of Dovedale Avenue.
There will be no reduction to the number of on-site car parks, in fact there will be a small increase.

Will development of the Dovedale campus change the cycle lane on Dovedale Avenue?

No. Any future changes to the cycle lane would be enacted by Christchurch City Council.

Is the University proposing to provide new student accommodation on the Dovedale Campus?

No.

Will any trees be removed during the development of Dovedale campus?

Plans are in the very early stages of development and while a small number of trees will need to be removed, the line of trees along Dovedale Avenue will remain as it is [as seen in the above artist’s impression of Dovedale Avenue]. Additional landscaping will be developed as part of the development to ensure neighbourhood amenity.

Once completed, will residents and neighbours be allowed to come and have a look?

Yes! We would love to host you and show off our exciting new campus once completed. In time, the University will invite the community to tour the new facilities.

If you have any questions about this project please email screencampus@canterbury.ac.nz.
The team endeavour to respond to enquiries within 24/48 working hours.