Last Thursday night, Salient attended the opening of the Student Union Building in The Hunter Lounge.
The event was attended by those who had worked on the project, Victoria University staff members, VUWSA Trust members, and past and present VUWSA members.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh said in his speech that he was excited about this “major milestone” in the campus redevelopment. He believes the SUB will “transform the vitality of the student experience here at Vic.”
He also commented on the significant input that students had in the design and realisation of the project.
VUWSA President Seamus Brady said The Hunter Lounge represents the “growth of the idea that students came up with over 100 years ago of how to make their campus a better place”.
He thanked “Tim [Ward] and his team for sharing their vision; the university for partnering with VUWSA; and past and present students for their involvement”.
Former VUWSA Trust Chair Alistair Shaw spoke about how the completed SUB has been achieved by “standing of the shoulders of the people who came before us”.
He said The Hunter Lounge called to mind the old days of university “hops”, and enthused about what an excellent gig venue it is.
“When there’s a gig here, it feels full, and it pumps!”
Current VUWSA Trust Chair and 1993 VUWSA President Dave Guerin called it “a testament to the longstanding regard the university has held students in and also the trust that students have put in their association… for the last 100 years.”
“It looks really good… we started back when I was on the exec and it’s really good to finally see it finished,” said 2007 VUWSA President Nick Kelly.
University Council Representative Conrad Reyners said it had breathed new life into the campus.
“I’m really looking forward to the next stage.”