Campus development reaches second phase

Almost one year on from taking up the post of Director of Campus Services, David Yule is close to realising the first phase of the redevelopment of the campus, with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (CIR) and the Queen Mother Building (QMB) both scheduled to be completed over the summer.

With work about to begin on the new building for teaching and the Faculty of Education and Social Work at Heathfield, and student residences at both the Healthfield and Belmont sites, the second phase of the project is well underway. Over the academic year 2005/2006 this work, and further projects, will continue.

David explained, "Over the next year we will be incorporating the broad thinking behind Sir Terry Farrell's masterplan into the building projects where we can. We are also following the principles of the 2004 estates strategy - attractiveness, intensity of use, effectiveness and sustainability - and incorporating them where we can into the projects."

The new Heathfield residences demonstrate effectiveness in the use of space. "By locating car parks below Heathfield we are using the campus more intensively," said David. The new Belmont residences are scheduled for completion next summer and Heathfield at the end of 2006.

Additional administrative space for the Faculty of Education and Social Work will be housed within the Old Medical School and Carnelley buildings, where refurbishment will begin next month. The Carnelley/OMS will also house the Life Sciences teaching unit.

"This refurbishment allows us to rationalise life sciences teaching space, making it more effective. It also enabled us to use some of our older buildings more intensively, through the collaboration with the faculty of education," David explained.

Work on the new life sciences teaching unit will be complete in September 2006. At the May meeting of Court approval was granted for the £15.8m cost for the Education and Social Work component, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2007.

Other projects due to start this year are the campus green and the new sports facilities on campus and at Riverside, which will both be completed by summer 2007.

Early 2006 will see the start of work on a 2300 m² extension to the main library. This project will improve the intensity of use in the library, making the building more effective. A new state of the art extension will be created, which will include a new entrance, café, teaching and meeting rooms and e-floor. Work will be complete in spring 2007.