New Deakin housing ensures students add vibrancy and value to the community

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander AO this morning joined Minister for Planning the Hon. Richard Wynne to officially open the Brougham House building overlooking the Waterfront.

Professor den Hollander said the 11-storey $50 million building was a key part of Deakin's vision to offer more students an experience that was close to everything they needed to live, work, study and contribute to a vibrant community.

"Deakin is delighted to be able to offer students a home that is centrally located to Geelong and moments from the Waterfront Campus, along with access to the free University shuttle bus service to Waurn Ponds, and to the train station," Professor den Hollander said.

"We know that having high-quality, affordable housing close to their university campus is directly tied to student success, so we are thrilled that our students will have this state-of-the-art modern building to call home, with one of the best outlooks in Victoria.

"Our students deserve the best and providing an environment in which they can thrive is a major focus for Deakin."

Brougham House has capacity for 410 students, with around 160 having already moved in when the first stage of construction was completed in time for Trimester 1 this year.

More students are expected to move in when Trimester 2 begins, with Brougham House to be fully occupied in time for the start of the 2019 university year, as originally planned.

Brougham House is the University's second student accommodation development in central Geelong, with the refurbished T&G building now home to 33 students.

"Deakin's investment in student accommodation in central Geelong is ensuring more students can immerse themselves in university life at the Waterfront campus, and in doing so, enhance the important contribution our students make to the wider community," Professor den Hollander said.

"By supporting more students to study and live in Geelong, we will enable them to make a vibrant contribution to the city well beyond attending the University for their lectures.

"Deakin University is committed to supporting the communities we serve, which is why we are focused on ensuring Geelong is a bustling, energetic city, filled with the leaders of tomorrow, who will continue to help transform the city when they go on to work in the jobs of the future.

"Our focus on ensuring our students can contribute positively to our wider community goes hand in hand with our commitment to provide education for the jobs of the future, so that our students can continue to make a difference to the world around them well beyond their time at Deakin.

"For the eighth consecutive year, Deakin is ranked first in Victoria for student satisfaction, an indicator we take very seriously, and that's why we invest in projects like this one we are delighted to be opening today."

Brougham House also includes a range of study and community spaces, including a rooftop barbecue terrace with views of the bay.

More information is available at http://www.deakin.edu.au/life-at-deakin/accommodation/on-campus/geelong-waterfront-campus-accommodation