New accommodation wing answers rising demand for student beds

The expansion project involves the conversion of former offices, meeting rooms and teaching spaces in the eastern wing of Hudson Hall into 78 new bedrooms for first-year students, increasing the Hall’s total bed count to 155 fully catered rooms, with a total of more than 800 beds across campus.

Lincoln students in their first year of study are fittingly accommodated in close proximity to the University’s core services – the dining hall, student services, lecture theatres, laboratories, social gathering spaces and the student health centre – to support their safety and wellbeing and to ease their transition into their new ‘home away from home’.

Hudson Hall is situated in the vibrant heart of the Lincoln campus, adjacent to the University’s dining hall, the new Student and Visitor Centre – opened by Hon Dr Shane Reti in March this year – and the expansive purpose-built student social spaces located in the George Forbes Building.

Lincoln University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Student Life, Damian Lodge, said the University had moved to increase its bed count in response to growing demand for its specialist land-based programmes from international and domestic students, many of whom wanted to live and study on campus.

“Lincoln is the clear choice for students wishing to pursue a career or research in the land-based sector, and the wider Waitaha Canterbury region has become a popular study destination for undergraduate and postgraduate students from all over Aotearoa and globally.

“With demand for our accommodation services continuing to exceed supply, we are now working on a long-term accommodation strategy, but in the meantime the Hudson Hall renovation will deliver accommodation spaces for an extra 80 students.”

Originally opened in 1954 as student accommodation, Hudson Hall was later partly converted into office, administration and teaching spaces. In 2021, the student accommodation (west) wing was internally and externally refurbished, with the external refurbishment works continuing on to the east side of the building in 2022.

The works being undertaken on the east wing include painting, plastering, decorating, lighting and electrical enhancements, window treatments, carpeting, fire upgrades and the fitting of new doors and furniture.

Damian Lodge said that providing world-class accommodation was a key element of the University’s goal to deliver a distinctive Aotearoa end-to-end student experience.

“We are committed to providing our student whānau with an enriching and successful experience within an environment that empowers them to thrive and achieve their goals.

“Our accommodation students live on-campus 24/7 during the semesters, so have the highest levels of interaction with buildings, facilities and the wider campus community. We are dedicated to providing them with the outstanding environment and services that they deserve to support their study journey.

“We are proud that our students typically form lifelong memories of their time at Lincoln University, and our accommodation students have particularly fond memories of the vibrant and inclusive atmosphere of our accommodation village.”

The Hudson Hall renovation project commenced on 5 June and is expected to be completed by December 2025.

Once the renovation is complete, it will increase Lincoln University’s student accommodation portfolio to a total of 827 beds across a mix of seven accommodation halls, 47 flats and 36 houses. The entire portfolio is University owned and operated.

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