by Bill Barr
These are exciting times as far as the Campus development and Estates matters are concerned. Following Court approval work has commenced on site for the demolition of the former Mount Pleasant residences to make way for the new Life Sciences CIDR (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research) Building.
This will be completed at a cost of £18m over the next 2 years Similarly work on the new and highly innovative Applied Computing Building will begin this summer adjacent to the Jam Factory. At the same time work will commence on a major £3.8m refurbishment of the DUSA Building. A great deal of effort will go on to ensure 'business as usual' whilst the work is being completed.
All of these projects will however impact upon access to the northern end of the campus and visitors to the Institute of Sport and Exercise will be affected particularly concerning access to the swimming pool and the squash courts. There will also be some negative impact upon car parking, but we are looking at ways of alleviating the reduction.
Not all of the work will be concentrating on new building projects, but where new works occur these are planned within the context of the Page and Park Campus Plan. Additionally a number of feasibility studies are being carried out to examine new facilities for Life Sciences teaching provision and the Centre for Petroleum and Mineral Law Policy (CEPMLP) within the existing, listed Carnelley and Carnegie Buildings.
The new link which joins the OMS and Carnelley buildings has been completed and as well as ensuring these two buildings are now fully compliant for disabled access, the link in effect, joins the buildings at all levels. The architectural solution clearly enhances what was a rather untidy corner of College Green.
Work continues to relocate the Faculty of Education and Social Work in a new facility on the Heathfield site which will include a teaching block for the central teaching requirements of the University. This project will be funded through the disposals of the Mayfield site and the Gardyne Road campus with the sale of the former having been completed.
Further opportunities for infrastructure developments are presented through the successful £10m allocation through the second allocation of SRIF monies. Proposals for developing research infrastructure have been received from the Faculties and these bids are subject to final approval by SHEFC later in June.
The working group to examine the outsourcing of the student residences continues and will report its progress to the June meeting of the University Court.
These projects represent significant developments for the University and provide a real opportunity for improving our research, teaching and physical environments. Meanwhile the day to day developments associated with minor contracts, maintenance, campus amenity improvements and the wide range of compliance issues continue to be addressed across the campus.