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Media Release

May 23, 2005

From Blueprint to Landmark – a new view of health

UniSA’s City East campus will have a new entry point with the unveiling of the Hetzel Building today providing a focus for health sciences in Adelaide’s health education precinct.

Named after the highly respected Dr Basil Hetzel AC, the health sciences building is a tribute to Dr Hetzel’s enormous commitment to public health globally and to his service to the University as its Chancellor between 1992 and 1998. A physician, educator and scientist, Dr Hetzel has made a difference to the lives of millions of people through his international work on eliminating iodine deficiency as a cause of brain damage.

The Hetzel Building will be home to the Division of Health Sciences, which incorporates the Schools of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences; Health Sciences; and Nursing and Midwifery.

With its state of the art design, the purpose-built teaching facility is impressive, housing five levels of teaching and research space. It features some 1,800 square metres of multipurpose, biomechanics (for human movement, physiotherapy and podiatry), pharmaceutics and microbiology laboratory space, and technologically sophisticated postgraduate research facilities including a PC3 laboratory that enables researchers to work safely with a range pathogens in an airtight lab space.

Architects Cox Grieve Gillett have designed a building that invites engagement, with the eastern aspect of the building fronting Frome Road, offering a fully glazed view into student research and teaching. The accessibility theme carries through with level three of the building opening to a large outdoor plaza covering 900 square metres that provides a central area for public events and allows direct access without steps from North Terrace.

Support for the project has also come from the private sector. Mutual Community is the major sponsor contributing funding to provide some special features for students including a 338 seat auditorium (the largest on the campus) to be known as the Mutual Community Auditorium.

Outside of the building on the plaza is a huge Gobo screen, also sponsored by Mutual Community, which will be used to project images and information about public lectures to be held in the new auditorium.

In addition ChemPlus has sponsored a “model pharmacy” teaching space in the new building to help students acquire the skills and experience needed to carry out a vital role in community and hospital pharmacies.

UniSA’s Blueprint 2005 plan for City East also includes a library extension and significant refurbishment of existing buildings as well as the health sciences building and outdoor plaza.

About Blueprint

In 2000 the University of South Australia announced a bold plan to revitalise facilities for staff and students. In addition to major capital works, the plan included a strategic reshaping of program offerings at five of the University’s campuses. The capital works program was dubbed Blueprint 2005 and became a core part of the University’s evolution as a modern and diverse institution, providing high quality education for students at home and abroad. The $100 million investment in that blueprint has delivered landmark buildings at UniSA’s two city campuses and in the north at Mawson Lakes campus.

The Hetzel Building launch

Dr Basil Hetzel AC will officially open the Hetzel Building
When: Monday, 23 May 2005 at 6 pm followed by a cocktail party (campus tours after 7pm)
Where: Basil Hetzel Foyer and Mutual Community Auditorium, Frome Road, City East campus
Please note: Journalists are welcome to attend the launch but can also call to arrange another time.

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