The National Capital Authority has approved the demolition of Bruce Hall's dining hall, clearing the way for the Australian National University to knock down the historic residential college.
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Approval was granted last month to demolish Bruce Hall's accommodation wings. However approval for the twin towers due to replace the college has not yet been given.
But the NCA's tick of approval on a bid to knock down the dining hall as well means demolition could take place soon.
Workers were on site on Friday however a ANU spokesman said they were working to remove "higher than expected levels of asbestos from the building".
However the Bruce Hall Alumni Association has called on the university to hold of wth the bulldozers until a a formal social value analysis is undertaken.
President of the Bruce Hall Alumni Association, Bec Duncan said two heritage assessments done by the ANU, in 2012 and 2015, recommended that a formal social value analysis be carried out, but this was never done.
"There are two vacant sites ready on either side of Bruce Hall, which remains in excellent condition. We stand ready to commence legal action, but hopefully the ANU will not put us in that position," Ms Duncan said.
"Alumni want to see more affordable accommodation on campus for students, but destroying an outstanding example of mid-century modern architecture, and an iconic vista down University Avenue, is not the way to do it."
