Dennis Hopper

Sharing the University’s plans as part of a wider vision for Yorkshire

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Dennis Hopper, Director of Facilities Management, shares the University’s plans as part of a wider vision for Yorkshire.

Sharing our vision for campus and seeking views and comments from regional stakeholders is of great importance to us.

We have held a number of meetings recently with the stakeholders in the Leeds City Region which have all received positive feedback. Members of the Leeds Civic Trust were enthused and very supportive of our ambitious plans to create a world class campus. Ongoing consultation and discussion are vital components in the implementation of our plan, and we are currently planning a consultation event with members of the local community.

The key to understanding the campus development plan is to recognise that it is rooted in the University’s Strategic Plan, with its ambitions for the growth and development of our research capability, academic cohort and the student body.

The campus development plan has been explicitly formulated to support and answer these needs. Although we have completed, and are planning, the construction of new buildings –work on the University Centre for Innovation and Enterprise and the Engineering and Physical Sciences development will both begin in the next year – the plan is not purely about new projects. It also encompasses a huge amount of enhancement, upgrading and maintenance works taking place on campus. As well as the significant ongoing refurbishments in the Schools of Medicine and Engineering and the Edward Boyle Library, we are also carrying out many smaller projects and works relating to campus infrastructure, pedestrianisation, separation of traffic, and maximising our green spaces. Current works alone are costing in the region of £150m – and much more is planned for the future.

There is an enormous amount of work taking place and this summer we will see a peak of activity. However, by September some key projects will be completed – the extension and refurbishment of the Institute for Transport Studies, the relocation of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies to the remodelled former School of Geography building, and the first phase of improvements to the Edward Boyle Library – and I hope that once staff, students and visitors see the new and improved facilities they will be pleased with the results!

You can watch our progress and sign up for email updates here

 

Architect awards

University of Leeds shortlisted for Architectural Awards

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Two of the University’s buildings have been shortlisted for prestigious architectural awards.
Laidlaw Library

The Laidlaw Library opened in spring 2015.

Shortlisted for a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2016 Yorkshire Award is the Laidlaw Library. The Library is amongst eleven other buildings competing for the prestigious accolade of ‘Building of the Year’ which recognises buildings that demonstrate outstanding architecture. Judges will be visiting the Library over the next few weeks and a winner will be announced in April.

Alongside the Laidlaw, the multi-storey car park which opened earlier this year has also been recognised for its inspirational design.  The car park, which boasts an impressive bespoke exterior of aluminum cladding panels and feature façade lighting for distinct aesthetic effect, is shortlisted in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 2016 Awards. As part of the process, judges visited the University to view the car park last month with a winner to be announced in May.

Dennis Hopper, Director of Facilities Management, commented:

“The University of Leeds is delighted to see our buildings being recognised in the RICS and RIBA Awards. To be shortlisted for these awards is testament to our ongoing commitment to create outstanding architectural buildings within our ambitious plan to create a world class campus.”

 

Montague Burton

Enhancing student experience at Montague Burton Residences

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A £7.5m investment is set to transform this well recognised building known for providing a great home to the University’s students.

A 30 month project will involve reconfiguring accommodation space to create larger blocks of living areas and the creation of a social space which will become a central hub of social activity for residents.

Find out more about the Montague Burton Halls of Residence project

Notice

Annual Inspection Notice – Baines Wing

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Where: Baines Wing

When: Monday 29th February 2016 to Friday 4th March 2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: None

Reason for works/services interruption: Annual condition survey to update our asbestos register in accordance with the current relevant regulations.

 Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Matthew Bostridge

Contact Telephone No.: Ext 35974 

Email: m.bostridge@leeds.ac.uk

Estate Services apologises for the inconvenience which this may cause your department. Unfortunately it is necessary to shutdown or interrupt our services in order to undertake essential maintenance or repair activities and for some new works projects.

Notice

Annual Asbestos Inspection – Clothworkers’ Building South

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Where: Clothworkers’ Building South

When: Monday 29th February 2016 to Friday 4th  March 2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: None

Reason for works/services interruption: Annual condition survey to update our asbestos register in accordance with the current relevant regulations.

 Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Matthew Bostridge

Contact Telephone No.: Ext 35974 

Email: m.bostridge@leeds.ac.uk

Estate Services apologises for the inconvenience which this may cause your department. Unfortunately it is necessary to shutdown or interrupt our services in order to undertake essential maintenance or repair activities and for some new works projects.

Notice

Redecoration of windows – Baines Wing

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Where: Redecoration of windows outside G.06 1913 Room and Rooms 1.14, 1.15 & 1.16 Baines Wing

When: Thursday 25th February 2016 to Monday 14 March 2016

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: Presence of scaffold and contractors redecorating windows

Reason for works/services interruption: Redecoration of windows

 Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed):  Ed Batty

Contact Telephone No.: Ext 36820    

Email: E.S.Batty@leeds.ac.uk

Estate Services apologises for the inconvenience which this may cause your department. Unfortunately it is necessary to shutdown or interrupt our services in order to undertake essential maintenance or repair activities and for some new works projects.

Lecture theatre

Redesign and Refurbishment of Central Teaching Space

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Exciting plans are underway for a state of the art £2.8m pilot programme to be delivered this summer that will redesign and refurbish our central teaching space.

The new proposed lecture theatres will transform our current facilities by offering a mix of collaborative teaching and learning space, and at the same time will contribute to the successful delivery of the University’s Digital Strategy for student education. The redesign of the lecture theatres will reflect best practice in furniture, equipment and use of digital technology.

Primarily the three lecture theatres in this pilot are Dental Lecture Theatre, Worsley Building; Roger Stevens Lecture Theatre 8 and Mechanical Lecture Theatre B, Mechanical Engineering. We are currently consulting with all users.

We are currently consulting with all users.  If you would like to be involved please contact Liz Brittain e.m.brittain@leeds.ac.uk

Find out more about the Lecture Theatre Redesign Project.

Treasures

Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery Refurbishment Complete

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Following a £1.9m refurbishment of the Treasures of Brotherton Gallery, doors were officially opened to staff, students and members of the public earlier this month.

The scheme involved the refurbishment of a suite of rooms to create a climatically controlled gallery space and adjoining public engagement room.

The gallery has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players – a grant of almost £1.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a generous private donation from the Brotherton-Ratcliffe family have supported the University in showcasing the treasures.

For more information on the project visit the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery page.

Image: The John Brotherton-Ratcliffe Room in the University of Leeds’ new Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery
© University of Leeds

Cycle track

£4.5M Cycle Track

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Innovative plans to create a state of the art cycle track are being consulted on with users over the coming weeks.

Proposals to develop a new £4.5m development of an outdoor closed loop cycling track have been passed by the University and will hopefully receive planning consent over the coming months.

Located on the University Bodington playing fields in North Leeds, the development will include a cutting edge, 1.6km tarmac cycle track and refurbished pavilion which will be used as a base for British Triathlon’s elite training centre.

Anticipated for completion this autumn, the new facilities will be maintained by the University of Leeds and will be open for use by students, staff and the public. British Triathlon will also be based at the new site with access to strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and other support services. Amongst these elite athletes will be Olympic medallists and University of Leeds Alumni Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.

The impressive new development will also support the elite athletes at the University ensuring they have state of the art facilities to train in to achieve their aim of competing on a world class level.

“The University of Leeds excels at cycling and triathlon, and our students are consistently at the top of their sport in the UK. Having these new facilities and British Triathlon based on site will further strengthen this.”
Rob Wadsworth- Head of Sport

For more information on the project visit the Bodington Pavilion and Cycle Track page.

Notice

Urgent Glazing Repairs – Parkinson/Baines Wing Link Bridge

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Where:  Chemistry & Chemistry West (Equality Services)

When: Saturday 6th February

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants: No Access into or out of Blue Zone Car Park for duration of works due to small Cherry Picker sited in narrow access passage.

Reason for works/services interruption: Window partially blown out in recent gales temporarily made safe but needs replacement.

Contact name responsible (to whom any queries should be directed): Chris O’Connor

Contact Telephone No.: 35976 

Email: c.j.o’connor@leeds.ac.uk

Estate Services apologises for the inconvenience which this may cause your department. Unfortunately it is necessary to shutdown or interrupt our services in order to undertake essential maintenance or repair activities and for some new works projects.

Thank you for your cooperation.