The former Queensland National Bank head office will serve as the new home of the University of Queensland, after the school’s application for a second location in the CBD has been granted approval.
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Plans (A005770473) lodged by UQ revealed the heritage-listed building at 308 Queen St and an adjoining seven-storey tower at 88 Creek St will be the location of its second Brisbane CBD campus, which is intended to host a “hub for postgraduate learning and executive education.”
The Queensland National Bank, also known as National Australia Bank, was built in 1881 and became a heritage site in 1992. The three-storeyed brick building is an example of Classical Revival style which was common in bank architecture of the period.
The university reportedly spent over $47 million in late 2019 to acquire both properties. The first CBD location is at another heritage-listed building at Queen St, which now houses their Business School Executive Education program. After almost two years, UQ’s vision for another campus in the CBD is a step closer to reality after the Brisbane City Council approved the development application in July 2021.
Based on the proposal submitted to Council, the first four levels of the seven-storey tower will be gutted and refurbished whilst an active travel end-of-trip facilities will be installed in the basement; Meanwhile, the ground level of the heritage-listed building will also be updated, including its external stone facade. Plans also include a new entry, at 308 Queen St to the shared lift-well between the two buildings.
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“UQ is more than doubling its footprint in the centre of Brisbane with the purchase of two iconic buildings in the City. The purchase allows UQ to meet increasing demand for CBD-based study in areas including executive education, lifelong learning and micro-credentialing, as well as continuing professional development,” the university stated.