Contact us

The Stage 1 development includes the construction of two multi-use contemporary buildings that will host teaching and research spaces; retail offerings; cultural and student-focused spaces; and facilities for new and existing industry partners.

The Stage 1 development is located at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street in Parkes. The site is currently an unsealed, at-grade public car park. Access to and from the site by vehicle and on foot will be via Constitution Avenue.

The Stage 1 Works Approval received approval from the ACT Government in December 2024. Once formal approval is granted from the NCA, a managing contractor will be appointed, with planned works to commence by Q4 2025.   

Stage 1 development was endorsed by the ACT Government in December 2024. The development is currently undergoing formal approval by the National Capital Authority (NCA) following endorsement by the ACT Government in December 2024 and a fifteen-day Public Consultation period which concluded in May 2025. 

The University consulted with the local community throughout the development of the Master Plan and Stage 1 Works Approval ensuring transparency and collaboration at each stage. 

• Initial consultation to inform the early phase of project design
  November to December 2023

• Further consultation following updates to Stage 1 initial project design
  May 2024

• Design update presented to the community
  March 2025

• Works Approval public notification period (via the National Capital Authority)
  April to May 2025

The development is expected to commence from Q4 2025.

Stage 1 development is expected to be complete and operational in 2028.

When Stage 1 commences there will be a reduction in the number of car parks available, as part of the car park will be closed to ensure the safety of users. 

The access to the carpark near the pedestrian traffic light will be closed.

There are paid parking options available in close proximity to the carpark including limited permanent parking available at St John’s Anglican Church carpark at a rate of $200 per month.

Here is a list of additional parking options: 

• National Capital Authority - Car park 64, Parkes Way 

• 200 Allara St Parking  

• National Convention Centre - 31 Constitution Ave 

• 33 Allara Street 

Further and more detailed information relating to the development, parking and traffic management will be available via the community newsletters which you can subscribe to here.

Engagement and communication will be ongoing throughout this project to keep local residents, businesses and the community informed of the progress of the development. The University will work to mitigate any impacts during construction and will advise on works or impacts as early as practical.

The community are encouraged to sign up to our newsletter for up-to-date information on the development.

A temporary traffic management plan will be developed during construction to detail any impacts on local traffic. All efforts will be made to minimise impacts to stakeholders, residents in Reid and Parkes and the wider community during the construction. The community will be notified in advance of any changes in traffic conditions.

A new basement car park will be constructed as part of Parkes -Stage 1 development. This facility is designed to support the ongoing needs of the students, staff, visitors, industry partners and the broader community within the Canberra City precinct.

The Master Plan has considered ways to mitigate impacts on Constitution Avenue, including the placement and access of driveways and internal access roads for precinct parking. These will be expanded further, through parking and traffic impact assessments that will be undertaken prior to construction. These assessments will inform detailed design of Stage 1, so we can address any potential impacts early.

UNSW engaged international award-winning architects Hassell for Stage 1. For more information see Parkes - Stage 1.

The Managing Contractor will be appointed and announced in H2 of 2025.

The Parkes - Stage 1 development will commence prior to the new aquatic centre construction in Commonwealth Park. The government are expected to update the community within 12 months of the start date for the pool construction. The detailed design work for the convention and entertainment centre, on the existing pool site will take three years, with completion while the pool project is being delivered

Both the UNSW Canberra City precincts development and the revitalisation of Commonwealth Park are poised to bring extensive benefits to the local community, including improved educational facilities, recreational amenities, and economic opportunities. The university and government bodies will continue to engage with the community to monitor and manage the impacts of these significant projects.

The first two buildings at UNSW Canberra City will be built on the corner of Coranderrk Street and Constitution Avenue in Parkes (Stage 1). UNSW Canberra has procured Hassell as the architect for the first two buildings. Positional plans for the two buildings can be found in the approved Master Plan.

Hassell are an international award-winning architecture firm. They have designed a number of notable buildings, including the University of Melbourne's School of Design, The Australian National University Research School of Physics and Birch building, and workspaces for Lendlease, NAB and Baker McKenzie.

UNSW has a commitment to maintain publicly available carparks, both during construction and the lifetime of the development, and is working with the ACT Government to ensure minimal impact to parking across the site. When early works commence, parts of the carpark will be closed to ensure the safety of users. Further and more detailed information relating to development, parking and traffic management will be available via the community newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

The Canberra City Master Plan is a long-term strategic vision for the expansion and transformation of UNSW Canberra’s presence in the city. The Masterplan provides a robust foundation to guide the staged development of the precinct and realise UNSW’s Canberra City precinct vision.

The Masterplan responds to the detailed design and planning guidelines set out by the ACT Government and National Capital Authority (NCA), in particular how precinct development is integrated into the city and surrounding environment. Positioning building envelopes, open green spaces, and the road, cycle, and footpath network.

The Master Plan was approved by the ACT Government in April 2023. This approval comes after several years of work and engagement between UNSW and the ACT Government, including two stages of community consultation and endorsement by the National Capital Authority.

Safety on precinct is of utmost importance for the University. UNSW Canberra City is no different from other University precincts with a range of safety and security measures and protocols in place. Some will be obvious and active such as Security monitoring and patrols and others more passive such as an activated ground plane and walkways, landscaping and lighting.

UNSW Canberra remains committed to engaging with consultants throughout the planning process and will evaluate all plans alongside the heritage and environmental impact.  

The urban design strategy for Parkes – Stage 1 prioritises revitalisation, incorporating more trees and a landscape approach that is both sustainable and aesthetically enriching, enhancing the precinct’s local character.

UNSW is committed to environmental sustainability and the UNSW Canberra City precinct will meet or exceed the Universities’ targets set to achieve its environmental sustainability goals.

The ACT Government will retain two hectares of land at the east end of the site for future development.

The benefits from the UNSW Canberra City precinct are wide-ranging. This project brings global expertise and opportunity for local employment and business. 

A second Group of Eight university in Canberra’s CBD will strengthen Canberra’s reputation as the knowledge and education capital of Australia and will bring new student markets to the ACT. 

Launch, UNSW Canberra’s defence and security innovation precinct, will be a leader in the realms of Innovation Districts. Designed to be energetic and social, the precinct will attract world-class innovators and industry leaders, accelerating social and economic benefits.

Over time, our cohort of students will grow, and across a 15 year period, it is expected that there will be up to approximately 6,000 students on precinct, when it is fully realised.

In Term 1 2025 UNSW Canberra City launched its first undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Cyber Security. This boutique program is limited to domestic students. 

UNSW offers two postgraduate programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Policy Leadership

Student accommodation is expected to be developed from Stage 3 in accordance with the Master Plan. UNSW is currently working with an off-precinct commercial providers to ensure there will be accommodation available to meet student demand in the early stages, and the University will bring forward onsite student accommodation if student demand makes that viable.  

UNSW will continuously monitor both student accommodation demand and supply in the Canberra market to ensure that this does not slow our growth potential or contribute to undersupply in the current market.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has proudly provided education services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Canberra for more than 55 years. The UNSW Canberra City precinct will deliver new academic programs for domestic and international students and be home to Launch, UNSW Canberra’s defence and security research and innovation precinct. The new precinct will also provide much needed space for the expansion of UNSW Canberra postgraduate and professional education programs and research. UNSW Canberra will continue delivering education and research at ADFA.

Staff and students have moved to CIT in Woden. This facility is fit-for-purpose and designed to accommodate changing needs of vocational education and training. Information about CIT’s move to Woden can be found here. 

Modern University precincts are typically in use 24/7 with access controlled outside standard business hours. 

Currently on site in Reid are Skykraft, Infinity Avionics, FuturifAI, UNSW Canberra’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab and the UNSW Defence Research Institute. Industry and government partners are expected take up residence in the first two of UNSW Canberra City’s new buildings.

UNSW Canberra City will allow for expansion of our current postgraduate and professional offerings as well as the opportunity to explore tailored educational programs which attract new domestic and international markets to Canberra. The Canberra School of Professional Studies has been established on the site and is working with industry to develop programs that meet the needs of Canberra’s industry.

In Term 1, 2025 a Bachelor of Cyber Security launched in existing buildings on the future Canberra City site. More information on educational offerings can be found here.

UNSW is committed to commencing the new precinct development in a timely manner. UNSW is currently providing short course and online education offerings in existing buildings at CIT Reid. These will continue to grow as the new precinct is developed.  

In Term 1, 2025 a Bachelor of Cyber Security launched from these existing buildings.

UNSW offers two postgraduate programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Policy Leadership