Alumni House
A place for connection, conversation and celebration.
To celebrate and publicly recognise the enduring relationships between the University of Newcastle and its alumni community, the University will create Alumni House – a digitally-enabled space dedicated to fostering the pride and nostalgia that alumni feel for the University, giving them a sense of belonging and enabling them to give back with impact by offering their time and expertise to the next generation of graduates.
Alumni House will be located on the former TPI House site (now vacant land) at 231 King Street, Newcastle. The cost to bring this project to fruition is estimated at $15 million. The University of Newcastle has committed a cornerstone investment of $5 million, as well as the site at 231 King Street, towards this project. It is our aspiration to raise a minimum of $10 million in philanthropic support for the project over the next two years.
Be part of the future with us. This is an inspirational project, connecting with global communities from the heart of Newcastle, and one where every donor is recognised for their generous donation. To cement your support and to make a major gift please contact the Alumni House project team – alumni@newcastle.edu.au or +61 2 4921 7892.
Spaces and Activities
Alumni House will provide the first ever space on our campuses purposely designed for our alumni and wider community. The purpose-built space will provide a “front door” to the University, providing a warm and welcoming home for our alumni returning to campus and, through our alumni, we will also welcome our wider community into the University.
Potential Spaces
- Conference, exhibition and event space
- Mentoring suites
- Hot desk facilities
- Shared informal workspaces
- Virtual technology-capable spaces
- Bookable board and meeting rooms
- Catering kitchen and café facilities
- Private dining space
- Lounge for informal gatherings
Proposed Activities
- Virtual and physical engagement with our global alumni
- Alumni to student engagement; for example: mentoring, recruitment services and career development opportunities
- Pop-up/Drop-in business opportunities
- Alumni celebrations
- Alumni networks and chapter meetings and events
- Professional development events for alumni and students
- Networking events and opportunities
- Hosting of private events
- Community lectures and gatherings
- Performances and exhibitions
Alumni-LED Engagement Project
To bring this fantastic community project to life, the University launched an Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA) Architectural Design Competition, inviting leading architectural firms to set out their vision for Alumni House. It was imperative that all firms had alumni representation in their project team. The competition received more than 100 initial registrations, which led to 32 design teams submitting an Expression of Interest. Four finalists were ultimately selected, and the winners were Durbach Block Jaggers Architects with Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture, Cox Inall Ridgeway, Surface Design and Northrop who together created the physical vision of Alumni House. Importantly, over 70 alumni participated in the competition across all firms that entered, cementing our commitment of connection and collaboration with our alumni.
A Project That Inspires
Meet our dedicated ambassadors — proud Alumni championing this project.
Elyssia Gasparotto
Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
“I am excited to discover and use the inclusive and culturally safe spaces that Alumni House will offer. Alumni House will provide a tangible way for me to stay connected with the University and greater communities once I graduate by providing an accessible platform for collaboration. As someone who has participated in the University’s global-facing leadership mentoring program of iLEAD Plus, and the Ma & Morley Scholarship program, I truly appreciate the amazing impact Alumni can have by giving back to the community.”
The late Dr Bernard Curran AM
Doctor Of Philosophy 1974; Bachelor Of Arts 1968
“The University of Newcastle was established by the community, for the community and plays an important role in the life of our city. The creation of an Alumni House not only provides a front door to the University in the CBD, it will harness community connections, promote inclusivity and provide the nucleus for graduates to connect and celebrate. We have such a rich and vibrant history in our short existence and, in Alumni House, we have a stage to reminisce, tell our stories and proudly recognise the remarkable achievements of our alumni across the globe.”
Sanket Bothra
Bachelor of Business 2010
“I have such fond memories of my time as a student and am very proud to call myself an alumnus of the University of Newcastle. For the international alumni community, the opportunities created by Alumni House will extend around the globe, becoming a virtual engagement hub for us to connect with friends, industry and the Newcastle community and I look forward to visiting our new home for alumni in the city centre.”
Dave Karlson
Master Of Business Administration 1993; Bachelor Of Mathematics 1981
“The facilities Alumni House can offer will be a fantastic asset for our alumni community and the University. There is a need for bookable business and conference facilities in the city to support our alumni and business communities, to connect us to each other, to our industry ventures and partnerships and virtually with our colleagues around the world. As more and more of our alumni community transition to working remotely, without the need for permanent office spaces, Alumni House will offer alumni a vital resource in Newcastle.”
Emily Bowen
Bachelor of Business 2011
“Alumni House will foster mentor opportunities both organically and proactively. But also it’ll give us a really easy, accessible way to actually connect to people that are further afield, perhaps using technology that?already there for us or even just through meeting someone that we wouldn?have otherwise met.”
Dr Patrice Newell AM
Doctor of Philosophy (Environmental Science) 2015
“Alumni House is in one of the best spots in the city. For me it’s a magnet that will draw me back to Newcastle more often.”
David Newham
Bachelor of Social Science 2007; Diploma of Aboriginal Studies 1998
“I have visions that is becomes a place that blends and sits comfortably in the cultural landscape both the traditional and contemporary space, and it?a place that our community feel like they can call into.”
