geothermal drilling site

Major milestone reached as geothermal work picks up pace

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Last updated on 9 May 2024

A collaborative project between Estates and the Sustainability Service is a step closer to discovering if geothermal energy underground campus can be used to heat buildings after reaching a major milestone.

The geothermal drilling stage of the project has now been completed at locations across campus and has provided experts with promising early results.

Testing of open and closed-loop boreholes has shown indications of excellent geothermal capacity and of possible optimal groundwater yield, which are both indicators of thepotential for geothermal energy underground.

If successful, the project could provide a clean, sustainable source of heat that reduces our reliance on both fossil fuels and electricity.

Drilling is continuing to take place on pilot wells on campus, which are helping to understand the ground model for geothermal drilling works.

Work will continue until the end of July, however the space required for operations will continue to be reduced over time.

Manhole chambers for closed-loop boreholes have now been installed at the Mechanical Engineering Building, Henry Price Residences and the Maurice Keyworth Building and returned to the University.

The project, which is part of the University’s Net Zero Delivery Plan, is bringing together experts from the Facilities Directorate and the academic community alongside specialists from ANTS Drilling and engineering firm Buro Happold.

David Oldroyd, Interim Director of Development at the University of Leeds, said: “This is an exciting collaborative project, with partners from both inside and outside of the University working closely together to make positive progress

“This work has the potential to save money, provide a more sustainable way of heating campus in line with the University’s Net Zero goals and set an example for future energy innovation.”

Find out more by visiting our project page and the Sustainability Services’s website.

Image credit: Ben Craven

Image of Fareeda Al Wakeel, Susan Preston, Bethan Corner and Vicky Zhuo holding their green plaques together

Green plaque scheme celebrates students making a difference to campus spaces

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Last updated on 9 May 2024

A new initiative that celebrates University of Leeds students who have made a difference to campus spaces and university life has been launched.

New green plaques have been unveiled at an event at the Postgraduate Research Lounge and will later be installed at the sites of four campus projects developed following student suggestions and feedback.

Each plaque details the contributions individual students have made towards getting each project off the ground, whether through activism, campaigning or by working with Leeds University Union.

The scheme has been developed by Leeds University Union and the Estates team to recognise the contributions students are making to the future development of campus.

Student-led projects being celebrated include the accessible lift in the Parkinson building, the Postgraduate Research Lounge, the Women in STEM Conference and the common lounge for commuter students.

Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation & Development said:

“Our campus is only relevant because of all the amazing things our students and staff undertake here at Leeds. Celebrating the successes through the Green Plaques is so exciting as it makes both people and place relevant.

“As we reshape the campus through Campus re-imagined we want to keep learning from all our University communities to make sure we are achieving our aim of creating amazing spaces on campus that are sustainable, inclusive, and innovative.”

Among the students being recognised is Fareeda Al Wakeel, who studies Medical Engineering at the University. Fareeda initiated the Women in STEM Conference, which celebrates women working in STEM related disciplines.

fareeda posing with her lecturer for a picture

She said:

“This plaque is a symbol of me being heard and appreciated. This started off as a really small idea. I wondered to myself, ‘why aren’t there more female lecturers on my course teaching me any engineering related module’?

“That created a very nice case for me to go ahead and do something about it. Receiving something like this pushes me to do even better.”

The plaques will be installed later this year.

Catch up on the latest Campus Development news.

Water ingress investigation works at Charles Thackrah

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Last updated on 7 May 2024

An aerial platform will be in use around the external perimeter of the Charles Thackrah Building on Friday 10 May while water ingress investigation works take place.

This is to complete an external building survey as part of water ingress investigation works.

Contactors RLB will be on site.

Reason for works/service interruption

Water ingress through cladding.

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

An aerial platform/MEWP in use around external building perimeter.

For enquiries please contact: Matt Easton
Contact Telephone No: 0113 343 5251 Mobile: 07775 074 225
Email: M.D.Easton@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 343 5555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

Parking at Engineering Buildings and Bragg

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Last updated on 26 April 2024

There will be disruptions to the Parking available at:

Civil Engineering
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Chemical and Process Engineering Building
Mechanical Engineering
Bragg Building

This will take place from 8am to 4.30pm between Monday 29 April to Friday 3 May.

The disruption is due to underground services information planning to undertake a survey of underground services to the rear of the engineering blocks. The area highlighted in red will be affected.

 

Services to be interrupted

Parking within area may be restricted for short periods and users may be requested to move vehicles at short notice to facilitate survey works

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

Short terms loss of parking spaces, disruption to parking.

For enquiries please contact: Bob Douglass

Contact Telephone No: 07957 227094

Email: r.douglass@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable or you have any general queries about our services, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 343 5555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

Hot and cold water supplies to the Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies building

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Last updated on 25 April 2024

There will be no water supplies available to the Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies building from 6am to 4pm on Saturday 27 April.

This is to carry out emergency repairs to the steam and to condense pipework.

Services to be interrupted

Hot and cold water supplies.

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

Supplies cannot be used during this time due to the cold water tank been cleaned and chlorinated.

For enquiries please contact: Chris Barlow

Contact Telephone No: 07920 250363

Email: c.j.barlow@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable or you have any general queries about our services, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 343 5555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

Heating and hot water switch off on campus

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Last updated on 23 April 2024

There will be no hot water or heating available to any main campus building (except the Edge, The Light & Worsley Building) from 5am to 5pm on Saturday 27 April.

This is to carry out emergency repairs to the steam and to condense pipework.

Services to be interrupted

Heating, domestic hot water and steam supplied autoclaves.

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

There will be no heating to any main campus buildings except The Edge, The Light and Worsley. There will be no hot water to any main campus buildings except The Edge, The Light and Worsley unless they have a backup system. Steam Autoclaves will be unusable for the duration of the works.

For enquiries please contact: Simon Gough

Contact Telephone No: 0113 343 6988 Mobile: 07913 900088

Email: s.j.gough@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable or you have any general queries about our services, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 343 5555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

Disruption to water mains supply to campus buildings

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Last updated on 23 April 2024

The water mains supply to several campus buildings will be switched off from 11:30pm to 6am, from Sunday 12 May to Tuesday 14 May.

The following buildings will be affected:

  • The Refectory (12th floor only)
  • University House (12th floor only)
  • Michael Sadler Building
  • Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building
  • Great Hall
  • Clothworkers’ Building South
  • Edward Boyle Library

Further details

To limit disruption the isolation will commence at 11:30pm with the water systems turned back on by 6am the following day. The maintenance team will be on hand each morning to purge as much air as possible from the system within the buildings.

Whilst the isolation takes place we will improve resilience by installing a new valve to the network.

Reinstatement of the holes will take place within core working hours.

A map of the approximate area affected by the mains water isolation is below. The Great Hall side of the black line will only be affected from Monday 13 May to Tuesday 14 May.

map containing red outline out affected area on campus

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

No incoming mains water supply to the building due to the supply being isolated. Potential for small amount of air within the system in the morning when the water is turned back on.

For enquiries please contact: James Wright, Senior Maintenance Manager (Managed Services).
Contact Telephone No: 07534982249
Email: j.r.wright@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable or you have any general queries about our services, 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.

Borehole drilling on campus

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Last updated on 22 April 2024

Borehole drilling will take place on campus using 30 ft drilling rigs and necessitating the use of large lorries.

Services to be interrupted

Car park out of use and some noise. General day-to-day access to Henry Price will be uninterrupted.

Effects of this interruption upon building occupants

A large element of the University’s pathway to delivering Net Zero by 2030 – a principle of the Climate Plan – is the decarbonisation of heat across campus. This work is to explore the ability to deliver subsurface heat through geothermal energy.

From Monday 29 January – Thursday 25 July, there will be work cabins in the car park at the University Road end of Henry Price and in the car park area near Cemetery Road. Large lorries will deliver equipment to these areas several times a day until Tuesday 5th March which may block the roads leading to the car parks and also create noise. Lorries delivering fuel and collecting spoil will be accessing the sites throughout the work.

From Monday 5 February, drilling will take place at the site in front of Henry Price Residences, i.e. the car park area off Clarendon Road. This is expected to take five days and will take place between 10am-5pm on weekdays. This will be followed by drilling in the other two car parks near Henry Price until the end of July, all day Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm. Material movements will occur between the car parking areas.

After the drilling, water will be pumped out for three weeks so there will be the noise of a generator.
From mid-February onwards there will be a pipe of 6 inch diameter running across the back of Henry Price, joining up the two holes. This pipe will run over the grass where there are benches and tables.

The car park will be closed from Monday 29 January till Wednesday 31 July.

 

Cabins on site: 29 Jan – 31 Jul
Location: Henry Price Residences, car park area near Cemetery Road 

This site will include the contractor’s facilities such as welfare cabins that will remain throughout the work, as well as the location of an ‘open loop’ well. Drilling for this will take place between 10am-5pm on weekdays.

map of first henry price residences work site

Cabins on site: 29 Apr – 19 Jul
Location: Car park at University Road end of Henry Price Residences

This site will include some contractor facilities and is the location of drilling for both a ‘pilot’ well and ‘open loop’ well. Drilling will only take place between 10am-5pm on weekdays.

New bore hole location (approximate) is indicated by the yellow triangle.

map of second henry price residences work site

For enquiries please contact: Simon Gough
Contact Telephone No: 0113 343 6988 Mobile: 07913 900088
Email: s.j.gough@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable, you have any general queries about our services, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 343 5555 or email: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

Repairs to Vernon Road

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Last updated on 19 April 2024

Roadworks and a diversion will be in place on Vernon Road from 7:30am to 3pm Saturday 20 April while highway repairs are carried out.

Please see the below map for alternative access routes.

map of vernon road and access route

 

For enquiries please contact: Tony Godfrey
Contact Telephone No: 07789 648 653
Email: T.Godfrey@leeds.ac.uk

If the above member of staff is unavailable or you have any general queries about our services, please contact the Estate Services Helpdesk on 0113 343 5555 or e-mail: eshelp@leeds.ac.uk

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

sofa and chairs at Maurice Keyworth foyer

Interior design team give campus a new year transformation

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Last updated on 19 April 2024

Interior designers at the University of Leeds have given several buildings on campus a new year’s makeover as part of efforts to provide students and staff with more flexible spaces to work, meet and study.

Spaces in the Refectory, Cavendish Road and the Maurice Keyworth Building are among those that have been re-designed by the team. Find out more about the work below:

Postgraduate Research Lounge

postgraduate lounge main space with desks and chairs

Located on the first floor of the Refectory Building, the Postgraduate Research Lounge is a new dedicated study and meeting space for postgraduate research students. Interior designers have completed a full redecoration of the space, providing a brighter and more versatile area for students. The team worked closely with Leeds University Union throughout the design process to make sure that the space met the needs of students.

Cavendish Road

cavendish road working space with desks, chairs and a sofa

Students from the School of English can now use their own dedicated study and collaborative space at Cavendish Road. The redecorated space on the top floor of the building has been kitted out with new furniture and has been designed to allow students to feel comfortable studying independently or collaboratively.

Leeds University Union ground floor

image of area in SU building with TV and co-working space

A new area next to the Leeds University Union helpdesk provides students with additional space to meet and work together. The space includes new charging ports, furniture, and a monitor for collaborative working.

Maurice Keyworth Building

sofa and chairs at Maurice Keyworth foyer

New furniture has been added to the foyer of the Maurice Keyworth Building as part of an ongoing trial, providing a more colourful and welcoming space for students, staff and visitors to meet.

Keep up to date with the latest development projects at the University of Leeds.