ACU reaches new milestone

HOW did Australian Catholic University’s planned construction  “Building T” at the Banyo campus get its name?
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek unravelled for the uninitiated the mystery at a turning of the sod ceremony at the campus on September 26.
ACU chancellor General Peter Cosgrove joined the minister for the ceremony, launching the start of work on the landmark building due to be completed by semester one 2015.
The ceremony came as part of celebrations for the ACU’s 10th anniversary since it moved from Mitchelton’s McAuley campus to Banyo.
ACU vice-chancellor Professor Greg Craven spoke of the university’s “tremendous gratitude to the archdiocese for making available this magnificent spot”.
“It’s a testimony to the partnership between us and the archdiocese,” he said.
 “This campus has grown from 2000 to 5000,” Prof Craven said.
“Nationally the university has grown from 12,000 to 27,000.
“The ACU is also the largest English-speaking Catholic university in the world.”
Mr Langbroek said he was “enjoying very much a productive relationship with universities as my portfolio” and noted “the stellar growth of Brisbane’s ACU”.
Regarding the so-called Building T, the minister said initially he’d thought the title referred to the building shape but quickly saw this could not be so.
An awareness of the use of letters of the alphabet for TAFE buildings alerted him to a possible answer.
His guess the “T” stood for “the 20th building on campus” proved correct.
The as-yet to be formally named new building on Banyo campus will dedicate a minimum of 50 per cent of the 6000 square metre floor space to teaching and learning including a new flexible learning area.
The building will also have dedicated offices for academic and general staff.
Originally formed in 1955 as McAuley College by the Sisters of Mercy, the Mitchelton-based college was responsible for preparing Sisters of Mercy to teach in Catholic schools.
McAuley College soon extended its mission to include members of other religious orders and in 1973 lay-students were admitted to the college.
At the end of 1990, the council of McAuley College formally handed responsibility for the college and its operations to ACU.
The Brisbane campus relocated in 2003, replacing the former campus in Mitchelton.
The 40-hectare site was formerly the Pius XII Provincial Seminary, with a history extending back to 1863.