The building was the site of numerous injuries, including those sustained by Katherine Casey who was left permanently disabled after slipping on tiling in its atrium in 2013, fracturing her spine and pelvis.
Ms Casey was awarded $60,000 reparation from the university after it pleaded guilty in a private prosecution to a charge of breaching the Health and Safety in Employment Act. During the prosecution, it emerged the building had been the site of 82 complaints, 12 involving serious injuries, since its completion in 1993.
The newly redeveloped common space replaced the enlarged atrium’s tiles, which became slippery when wet, with a carpeted floor, while a ground-level entrance at Union St had also been added. At the redevelopment’s official opening on Wednesday, chancellor Dr Royden Somerville QC restated the university’s apology to Ms Casey.
"[The previous atrium] suffered from serious design defects," he said.
Dr Somerville sang the praises of the "warm and inviting" new atrium, before commending the Otago Business School’s online MBA programme, which had recently been ranked third in the world by London-based CEO Magazine.
The centrepiece of the renovated atrium is a 10m sculpture by Ngai Tahu artist Ross Hemera, inspired by early Maori trade and enterprise in Otago.
Business school dean and pro-vice-chancellor Prof Robin Gauld was effusive about the redeveloped building, describing it as a "complete contrast" to the previous loud, draughty atrium.
"It’s terrific. The best space in town.
"It beats the Link! [the university’s main food and retail area]"