The Hunter Replacement

As early as 1974 the University was talking of holding an architectural competition to find a replacement for the Hunter building. There was talk of even holding an international competition. The university's architects showed that they were not keen to be left out. In 1976 they presented plans for a replacement — the plan showed a complex of three buildings joining each other at the corners, (reprinted in Salient earlier this year). The plans were submitted to the Site Committee and (thankfully) were turned down. The Profess-orall Boards Accommodation Advisory Committee has recommended :

That the contest will be limited to New Zealand and that the university will have the option of either allowing the designer to follow the project through to the end or will negotiate with them on the design. Sources close to Kingston, Reynolds, Thom & Allardice (the university architects) told Salient that there were already staff working on designs for a replacement. Different sources told Salient that when the first designs were done there was some dissension between the staff designer and the Company's top people concerning the design. Given Kingston's etc. past record for design on this campus they would not seem to have the vision or willingness to be able to submit anything aesthetically pleasing as a replacement. As for what else might come up is anybody's guess.

Not everyone wants to have a replacement. There have been some who have called for the vacant lot to be left empty so that it could be turned into "a pleasent green spot". While sounding noble it is not realistic since this would mean a decrease in the room space available on campus, something which has affected the university for a long time.