OUSA president Keegan Wells said its Clubs and Societies building in Albany St was undergoing construction to revamp the roof and ensure joints were seismically sound.
Ms Wells said it was hoping to reduce the cost of construction but student safety was a priority.
The building was set to reopen next year in time for Orientation Week and the arrival of new students.
There would be no interior changes done as part of the work.
Foot traffic had increased over the past few years and the need to guarantee the building’s safety had become more pressing for OUSA, Ms Wells said.
Although by law OUSA had 30 years to get the building to code, it wanted to "prioritise student safety" by bringing the building above the minimum of 67% of new building standard for strength in an earthquake.
She highlighted the importance of the building, calling it the organisation’s "flagship building".
The space brought students together not only through clubs and recreational activities but also through the daily free breakfast and $4 lunch.
Ms Wells said the free breakfast was bringing in more students than any other amenity, something she attributed to the high cost of living.
By Rawan Sadi
