By Annette Shailer
Brisbane-based Hospitality Training Association (HTA) has unveiled the second stage of its $17.8m refurbishment and expansion program, after a year of construction.
Costing $11.6 million, the second stage has doubled HTA’s existing floorspace and increased the capacity of its teaching kitchens, created new classrooms, patisserie kitchens, training restaurant and café and will now provide students with the latest equipment.
A further $6.2 million is expected to be spent over the next three years on the final stage of the refurbishment and expansion program, which will result in five additional kitchens, lecture theatres and a function and events area that will seat 120 guests.
The refurbishment program is the largest undertaken by the training provider in its 26-year history and addresses the industry’s skills shortage by increasing student capacity and upgrading training facilities.
HTA now owns and operates more than 4400 square metres of space over four floors in the K Tower, 269 Wickham Street, Brisbane.