UOC KŌAWA STUDIOS, DIGITAL CAMPUS

The University of Canterbury’s Kōawa Studios Digital Campus at the Dovedale site underwent a significant multi-year transformation, delivering a state-of-the-art creative technologies precinct and revitalising an ageing campus with a new lease of life. Delivered over a three-year Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and construction programme, the project repurposed and redeveloped multiple existing buildings within a live university environment.

Dominion Constructors led the seismic strengthening, demolition, refurbishment, and specialist fit-out works across the campus, integrating complex digital production facilities including virtual production studios, sound stages, editing suites, gaming labs, and teaching spaces. The redevelopment combined structural upgrades, full services replacement, and high-performance acoustic and technical environments, all carefully coordinated to minimise disruption to ongoing university operations.

Key buildings within the precinct, including the Wairakei Building, Ōtākaro Building, Jack Mann Auditorium and Sound Stages, and Tech Mill, were transformed to support leading-edge screen and digital media education, aligning with the University’s research and teaching objectives while achieving significant improvements in resilience and functionality.

The project has been widely recognised for its innovation and delivery excellence, receiving multiple industry accolades, including the 2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards Gold Award (Education Category) for the Wairakei Building, the 2026 Gold Award (Education Category) for the Jack Mann Auditorium, and the 2025 New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Awards Best Practice Class A Removal Award for the Jack Mann Building.

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