New home for Institute of Education

The new Institute of Education building on the Manawatū campus is officially open for business.

More than 100 education staff have moved from the Hokowhitu site to the former student administration (NSATS)  building on the corner of Collinson Rd and Albany Dr.

The new Collinson Village has been built diagonally opposite.

On Friday a welcome was held at the new premises for staff to meet others working nearby.

Institute interim director Associate Professor Sally Hansen says moving to the main campus felt like a new start. “Staff are enjoying being part of the main campus and enjoying a new environment,” Dr Hansen says.

“Some staff have said that they feel they’ve started a new job. There’s a general feeling of excitement and anticipation about being in a new place.”

For more than 30 years the Hokowhitu site was home to the former College of Education and before that, the Palmerston North Teachers’ College.

In his latest report to the Heritage Restoration and College of Education Relocation Programme steering group, programme manager Keith Harvey says the only education staff members still to move from Hokowhitu are those from the Centre for Educational Development, who are scheduled to relocate in the week of February 18.

Mr Harvey says the Hokowhitu Library has also relocated to Turitea and artwork will be next. Some will be located with the institute and the rest stored until the staff are moved into their permanent locations towards the end of the relocation and restoration programme.