Garstang & Irene Manton – Loss of power affecting all mechanical and electrical services

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Where: Garstang and Irene Manton

When: 05/10/2016 and 06/10/2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: Total loss of power affecting all mechanical and electrical services between 1am – 8am 

Reason for works/services interruption: Part of the A2 substation replacement project in support of the FBS development plan.

Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Adele White

Contact Telephone No. : 0113 343 5979

Email: a.white@leeds.ac.uk

Thank you for your patience and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Michael Sadler 24th Sept 2016 – Statutory Electrical Inspection & Testing

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Where: Michael Sadler

When: 24th Sept 2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: Loss of all services (lighting, power, IT connectivity & mechanical services, etc) to whole building.

Reason for works/services interruption:  Inspection, verification & testing of main incoming supply and sub-main circuits to the building. 

Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Tawfiq Wahab

Contact Telephone No. : 0113 343 5980  

Email: T.Wahab@leeds.ac.uk

Thank you for your patience and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

No access to the rear of Chemistry and Brotherton Library delivery area 24th Sept 2016

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Where: Chemistry and Chemistry West Block

When: Saturday 24th Sept 2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: No access to the rear of Chemistry and Brotherton Library delivery area.  Please see attached drawing showing crane location, the area around the crane will be cordoned off.

Reason for works/services interruption:  Please bear with us as we bring a crane onto site to remove obsolete fans and duct work from the roof of the Chemistry building. 

Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Bob Douglass

Contact Telephone No. : 0113 343 5794 Mobile: 07957 227094

Email: r.douglass@leeds.ac.uk

Thank you for your patience and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Campus then and now

Campus then and now: Parkinson Building

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Notice something missing? We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus masterplan photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years.

The Parkinson Building is a Grade II listed art deco building. The tower is the highest point of the building and stands at 57 metres tall, making it one of tallest buildings in Leeds.

It was named after Frank Parkinson, a major benefactor of the University who oversaw many new build projects from 1936 onwards.

Designed by Thomas Arthur Lodge and built in Portland Stone, construction started in 1938 but due to the war, when it was used as a Ministry of Food storeroom, it was not opened as a University building until 1951.

Share your thoughts

If you have any past stories about the historic construction of the Parkinson Building or photos of it without its iconic tower please share them with us.
Tweet us your Parkinson throwback images and stories to  @UoLCampusDev #UoLThrowback

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You can see more now and then images by subscribing to the Campus Developments email newsletter.

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Nexus building

Green light for innovation and enterprise centre

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A new £38m innovation and enterprise centre at the University of Leeds has been given the green light by Leeds City Council today.

Members voted to defer and delegate the approval of the application to the Chief Planning Officer, subject to completion of the legal agreement.

Offering a gateway to help businesses access the University’s world-class research, the centre is part of the University’s £520m investment in its campus, aimed at positioning Leeds as one of the UK’s top higher education institutions.

The centre, to be named Nexus, will be positioned at the south edge of campus, close to the city centre.

 

Dr Ceri Williams, Director of Research and Innovation Development at the University of Leeds, said: “This centre is designed to help new and established companies and other organisations harness the University’s capabilities in a more streamlined and inventive way.

“Universities offer a huge range of support, whether that’s new knowledge and expertise, access to our talented students and graduates, or executive development to help businesses innovate, grow or be more productive.

“But developing new opportunities can be difficult, because of the sheer size and complexity of higher education institutions. Nexus will provide a new way of collaborating, providing businesses with seamless access to the right expertise, skills or facilities, in an exceptional place”.

 

The centre will offer a vibrant community for tenants, providing high quality office and lab space for technology-led companies, corporate R&D and new product development teams, and will offer a range of spaces for networking and collaboration, including meeting rooms, a cafe and a business lounge.

The University of Leeds has a strong track record in supporting the growth of new and established businesses, having created more than 100 spin-outs.

Seven of these spin-out companies are market listed on AIM, which is more than any other university in the UK.

Nexus aims to play a key role in supporting the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) mission to unlock the region’s economic potential, by encouraging enterprise and supporting businesses to grow and remain in the area.

 

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the LEP, added: “I’m delighted that the University has put forward its ambition for a multi-million pound investment in this purpose-designed facility.

“Local businesses and entrepreneurs will have a place where they can engage and benefit from the knowledge and capabilities of the University, enabling the development of next generation technologies and products. I believe it has real potential to contribute to regional growth and prosperity.”

 

One of the strong industry partnerships the University has already established is with DePuy Synthes, a company delivering innovative medical devices and solutions in orthopaedics, spinal care and neuroscience.

The company opened its new research and development centre in Leeds in 2014, after receiving significant investment from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

 

Commenting on the role that Nexus will play in industry research, Mike Barker, Vice President, Worldwide Research & Development in DePuy Synthes said: “It is vital universities offer companies a clear gateway, not only to provide space for innovation and collaboration in research, but also easy access to knowledge, facilities and graduate talent.

“Our company’s approach is to exchange new ideas and collaborate in hot spots of innovation, such as exists here in Leeds. We have a long history in Leeds and programmes like these play a big role in supporting and developing the medical technology industry and life sciences sector.”

 

The new facility, which will open its doors in 2018, is one of several developments underway at the University, with infrastructure investment ranging from £90k – £90m.

The centre has been designed by Associated Architects and was submitted by Indigo Planning.

A recent report revealed that the University is currently making a £1.3bn contribution to the UK economy, with its overarching £520m investment aimed at creating a world-class campus to support its ambitious plans to drive cutting-edge research and excellent student education.

 

Interior design

Ask the Expert: Creating inspiring environments on campus

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Penny TiffneyPenny Tiffney, Technical Officer for Interior Design, Estates Services explains the impact of interior design on campus.

Bringing to life our aspiration to create a world class campus involves balancing the structure of buildings with the internal environment to be created.

The psychology of the space within a building is critical as it encompasses how lighting, temperature, colour, furniture, materials and layout can have a positive impact.


Do positive environments contribute to a dynamic learning culture for our staff and students?

It is important to have spaces that are fit for purpose.  Within a University environment, there needs to be flexibility in working spaces, learning spaces and social spaces.  A room for learning, teaching and communicating with peers has to have the correct level of lighting, spacing between furniture and correct acoustics.

What impact does furniture, lighting and flooring make on the learning environment?

The furniture should enhance the space and make for effective working or be comfortable for socialising.  We, as a University, go through a set of strict criteria when procuring new furniture and we analyse the furniture for its sustainable and ergonomic credentials.  The new design of task chairs, for example, allow an individual to customise the positioning of the back, arms and height.  Even the fabric of the chairs should be carefully considered as it needs to be durable, yet comfortable.

The positive and negative effects of lighting can impact the way we interpret a space and importantly, the way we perceive colour.  Daylight is important for the positive health benefits but it can also increase temperature, so it is crucial that lighting can be controlled and this also includes our exposure to daylight.

Out of the key masterplan projects underway during the next 5 years, which are you working on?  Can you tell us a bit more about your role within the context of the projects?

I am currently involved in Transport, Engineering, the School of Healthcare and Residences. My role is to understand the clients’  needs from the space, their brand identity and how these are echoed in the design.  But most importantly how the space can be designed as  fit-for-purpose, durable and easily maintained.

No electrical supply to Western Lecture Theatre, Liberty Building and Gryphon Sports Centre 17/09/2016

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Where: Western Lecture Theatre – 179, Liberty Building – 180 and Gryphon Sports Centre – 181

When: Saturday 17th September, 08:00 – 15:00

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants:  No electrical equipment including lighting will be working.

Reason for works/services interruption:  We have been advised by Northern Powergrid that they need to turn off the electrical supplies to these building whilst they carry out modifications to their network. Please note the University has no control of these works.

Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Mohammed Raza (Northern Powergrid) or Ian Stead (University of Leeds)

 Contact Telephone No. :  07889 765090(Northern Powergrid) / 0113 3435988 (University of Leeds) 

Email:  i.m.stead@leeds.ac.uk  

If the above member of staff is unavailable, you have any general queries about our services or would like to add or remove a person from this email list, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 3435555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

Thank you for your patience and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

LUU news

Our ambitions for an exceptional University Union

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Already ranked in the top three for providing an exceptional student experience, Leeds University Union has embarked on a substantial £16.8m investment to upgrade its facilities, which will contribute towards its strategic plans to remain one of the UK’s biggest and best Students’ Unions.

The multi-million pound investment will provide state of the art facilities resulting in a unique suite of venues under one roof, alongside modern well equipped theatres with increased capacity. Upgrading of the retail spaces, licensed bars and café areas within the building will complement improved performance venues and facilities for societies. Users will also be able to navigate the building better through access from new lifts and better connections between spaces used for community engagement and co-curricular activities.

Set for completion in Spring 2017, the revamped Union will create a dynamic and modern environment, continuing to help students love their time at Leeds. The Union Upgrade is part of the University’s £520m investment in its campus, aimed at positioning Leeds as one of the UK’s top higher education institutions.

Dennis Hopper, Director of Facilities Management, University of Leeds commented:

“Investment in our facilities is a key factor in the University’s ability to achieve our strategic goals. Our buildings must support world leading research while at the same time responding to changes in student education and increasing student expectations. The significant investment in the University Union will strengthen this ambition and ensure that students have the very best experience during their time here at Leeds.”

 

Aidan Gills, Chief Executive of Leeds University Union explains more about the ambitious plans and the complexities of delivering a project of this scale, at the same time as maintaining business as usual.

“Our vision is to make sure that every student loves their time at Leeds. Over the past decade, what LUU does to support students at Leeds has radically changed, and this project gives us the opportunity to reflect that in our building.

Students arriving this September will experience the opening of some great new spaces in their first term and the current students will be kept informed about everything we are changing and how we want their involvement and input.

With 320+ student-led groups, the Union Upgrade is vital to ensuring that we continue to achieve our vision in a sustainable way for years to come.”

Botany £1M refurbishment complete

Major refurbishment complete

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The £1m smart refurbishment of Botany House has created a newly transformed space for the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science.

This new facility provides an inspired environment for Postgraduates and teaching staff to further enhance the School’s research capabilities.

Louise Hawksworth, School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science Manager said:

“The refurbishment of Botany House is a huge step for the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science. It means we have been able to rethink how we use our accommodation, including existing space in Michael Sadler and Baines Wing, to allow for improved facilities for our staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and visitors. Up until now, the School has been spread out over seven buildings, but now it feels like PRHS has a home right in the heart of campus.”

The school is the only one of its kind enabling creative and critical future thinkers in higher education. The new site will provide a dedicated space for students to continue exploring philosophy, religion, and history of science in unparalleled depth and breadth.

View the new image gallery below (click to expand)

Find out more about the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science.

Changing room Leeds sports park

Making tracks at Bodington Playing Fields Pavilion and Cycle Circuit

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Good progress is being made with the development of the closed loop cycle track and pavilion upgrade. Former pitches are now under transformation with soil layers removed and levelling of ground taking place in order for track construction to begin.

Enabling works to refurbish the interior of the pavilion are underway. Over the coming weeks we will see a third floor and viewing balcony added to the building along with the installation of new windows and a modernised exterior frontage.

Planners at Leeds City Council have given consent to the planned £5m investment that will create significant training facilities for cycling and triathlon in Leeds.

The main contractor appointed to carry out the works, that are due for completion in January 2017, is Geo.Houlton and Sons Ltd.

Dave Padden, Construction Director of Geo.Houlton and Sons Ltd. commented:

“Houlton are very excited to be involved in this project. The scheme is going to offer students first class, state of the art facilities as well as continuing to provide grass roots sports in the wider community.

For us, the fact that Houlton, a long established company with a tradition of providing investment and opportunity for its own staff, has been given this opportunity, to be associated with  the University’s investment in its aspiring athletes of the future as well as existing Elite athletes, makes us immensely proud”

Patrick Craig, Assistant Head of Sport at the University of Leeds added:

“We are delighted to be able to add this new cycle track and sports pavilion to our growing portfolio of top class sport facilities. To be able to do this in partnership with world leading sports bodies including British Cycling, British Triathlon, UK Sport and Sport England reinforces our vision of becoming the number one provider of higher education sport and physical activity experience in the UK and demonstrates our desire to support the development of sport on the world stage”

Find out more about the Sports Park Weetwood Pavilion and Cycle Track