University Buildings

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 14

University Buildings

The circumstances in which the University of Canterbury finds itself through new science buildings at Ham not being ready for full occupation are alarming; the Chancellor (the'Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) used the word “ disastrous ”. In a project costing more than £3m spread over more than three years it may be inevitable that some unforeseen delays would occur; but the Vice-Chancellor (Dr. L. L. Pownall) has reported that the handing over of the complete job was scheduled for three months ago and that some sections will be eight months delayed. Dr. Pownall says the university has been “ let down ” by the contractors. This also applies to the community as a whole because so many students now come from beyond the city. The university had planned a co-ordinated, stage-by-stage transfer from the central site to the Ham campus. As soon as last year s examinations were over a start was to have been made with the move of science departments to Ham. This mammoth task was to have been completed in the long vacation, freeing large areas of the central site for the needed expansion of other departments. It is no exaggeration to say that the virtual abandonment of this schedule has affected every department and nearly every one of the 4800 students at the university. Dr. PowmaH says the students deserve most sympathy. But sympathy will be of no help in their studies, dislocated for much of this year by the break-down in accommodation. The university, for three years, has based all its academic and physical planning on the undertaking that the science buildings would be completed on time. Its reorganisation programme was by far the biggest ever planned in Christchurch. It was of little avail. If the university has erred in any respect it is in delaying revelation of the space situation until the day classes began. For months there has been doubt whether the science buildings would be ready. The university accepted assurances of contractors until the last minute. In a project of this magnitude delays in the completion of contracts have consequences which no penalty payments can ever repair.