Just 50 metres from the university's library, a new area under the student housing precinct of Cooper Lodge is now buzzing with activity after the opening of an array of businesses.

It comes after the Legislative Assembly passed the University of Canberra Amendment Bill in March, allowing the university to develop and expand the Bruce campus.

A new health precinct, further residential development, a supermarket and a hospital are planned in the future development of the university.

A University of Canberra spokeswoman said the campus would be "transformed into a series of precincts" over the next 10-15 years.

She believed the Cooper Lodge precinct had been great for the students.

"[It] increases the appeal of studying and living on campus and makes the university an even more vibrant place to be," she said.

The businesses at the Cooper Lodge precinct strive to cater to students' needs, offering affordable prices and job opportunities.

The Yellow Canary is a vintage, second-hand clothing store in the precinct. Owner Bridget Perman enjoys the mainly student clientele who frequent her store.

"I try to keep my prices really low, it's definitely targeted towards students," Miss Perman said.

"It's been good, it's been fun meeting people and everyone is really lovely here at the university.

"It's just really nice to know that people like my stuff and what I am doing and they are finding out about it."

Miss Perman has been passionate about second-hand clothing since she was a child as her parents used to take her op-shopping.

She gathers most of her clothing from op shops, markets and her grandmother.

The Yellow Canary, which celebrates its first birthday on Saturday, was the first shop to come to life at Cooper Lodge.

"I was the first business in this spot, so it took a while for the rest of the businesses to get up and going which was a bit frustrating for me because with all the businesses together, we would have gone off with a bang but it's been fun, I like the spot," Miss Perman said.

Another business that has popped up at the Copper Lodge precinct is The Well, a bar named after playwright Orson Welles.

The bar had their soft opening on May 1, but manager Pat Rose has a number of additional events planned for the bar which will be unveiled on August 3, its official opening.

"We'll be adding a bunch of additional things, for the night. We are having a getaway car, an outdoor cinema, rockabilly bands and girls on rollerblades," Mr Rose said.

The Well is a student-owned bar and most of the work relating to it has been done by either former or current students.

Mr Rose, a former University of Canberra student, started planning the project in his final year of study and wants to create a bar by students for students.

"All our staff, bar one of two, actually studies here," Mr Rose said.

"A lot of the changes we will be making in the future or otherwise will be derived from students and for the students; it's all centred on the student experience."

The Well's hospitality and events manager Michael Balic feels the Cooper Lodge precinct has been great for the university.

"It's a fantastic part of the university and it's been activated mainly with The Well but also with our surrounding shop owners," Mr Balic said.

"The student cohort has been very complimentary of the bar opening, saying it's about time something like this was established in the UC campus.

"We hold events here for student groups, trivia nights and pool nights. It's a venue where people can come and listen to music, come and participate in conversations, share ideas and just have a good time."