Twilight event shows off new Ara trades campus

Twilight event shows off new Ara trades campus

A Twilight Open Campus this Thursday 25 January, 4pm – 7pm, showcases new facilities and technology at the Ara Institute of Canterbury Woolston Campus.

It is an ideal chance for the local community to visit the campus, which specialises in trades training and was completely upgraded after the Christchurch earthquakes to support the rebuild of the city.

“We were presented with the opportunity to embrace the new era of trades training,” Head of Trades Dennis Taylor says. “The government contributed $18.9m to the upgrade of our campus and training and at that point we launched into a huge project of re-assessing our facilities, our learning delivery and the needs of local industry. I’m pleased to say that we now have one of the most modern trades facilities in the country. Every single programme has new facilities, equipment or buildings.”

Tutors will be on hand at the Twilight Open Campus to talk about the new facilities, current trades programmes and opportunities in the industry.

Live music and activities for children from Highly Flammable performers will keep families entertained, while food trucks Smokenbarrel and Lettuce Eat will provide tasty snacks.

The upgraded campus looks modern and sophisticated. Two new trades barns currently used for carpentry and plumbing have added 1000m2 of space, while an extension to the main trades hall adds another 1000m2.

There are flexible seminar rooms, an open collaborative learning space, and a new computer lab that reflect the modernisation of trades training, as well as a speciality Enamel Painting room, a new Electrical Lab and a new Wallpapering Room.

Mobile resources bring the classroom to the workshop and integrate theory with practice, helping students to learn at their own pace and spend more time practising their skills and learning from their tutors' industry experience.

Just as much work happened below the ground as above, with drainage and updating old services taking top priority. The last stage of the work created a ‘heartspace’ landscaped area with basketball court and grassy areas and a new carpark.

Campus tours will also be available at the Twilight Open Campus plus free minibus transport between the Ara City and Woolston campuses. The local community in particular is encouraged to come and check out the new developments.

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