Campus development update

While the summer period is traditionally a quiet time for much of the University, one area that has maintained its momentum is the development of the new buildings around campus.

According to David Yule, Director of Campus Services, "The CIR building is taking shape and is on track to hit its summer 2005 completion date. Work on the QMRC building which will be completed next summer is also going according to plan and the DUSA refurbishment is looking great."

The demolition of Belmont Halls of Residence was completed over the summer, making way for the first 350 en-suite student rooms of the 1,100 to be constructed over the next two years. The partnership agreement on the student residences was recently signed with the Bank of Scotland and Sanctuary Housing Association and will provide the University with the best student accommodation in Scotland, as well as releasing funds for teaching and research facilities over the next few years.

The Campus Green, a pedestrianised area at the heart of the Campus plan, will also be underway in the coming months. David said, "A shortlist of landscape architects has been drawn up for the creation of this area, and a company will be decided upon over the next few weeks. They will work together with the University community to create the vision we have for the centre of the new campus - an attractive place for gathering and relaxing."

David added, "Whilst all this building work is going on I am also implementing a review of the way we do business in Estates. So that I can concentrate on this I have asked Duncan White to perform as Deputy Director and Colin McNally to head up our busy projects section to spread the workload. More detail on these arrangements is on our website."

There will be continuing and new building works on the City Campus during Autumn 2004 semester. An updated image of the location of the various building works is on the Estates website.

The demolition of the Heathfield Mill at Hunter Street, which will become the new Faculty of Education and Social Work building, will begin in December. This will be adjacent to the second residences site on the Hawkhill where another 420 bedspaces will be sited with 110 car parking spaces below, compensating for the spaces lost during the building work.

Building work is also planned in the Old Medical School and Carnelley buildings in order to provide a Life Sciences Teaching Unit to replace the facilities currently based at MSI and BSI.

In addition to the building work taking place on the main campus, an ambitious 5-year strategy for sport and exercise facilities at Riverside has also been created. The plan will be implemented in phases, with the renewal of the all weather playing fields, an upgrading of the changing facilities and the construction of a new fitness suite and squash courts already approved by University Court.

David commented, "It's fair to say that optimism is at a high and everyone is pleased with the progress we are making."