Sir William Henry Bragg Building

Progress Summary

• External works are nearing completion with soft landscaping due to commence from 23^rd November.
• Final decorations, carpets and cleaning are ongoing throughout.
• M&E installation works are nearing completion.
• Lab furniture installation to level 4 is now complete.
• Installation of bespoke joinery items are ongoing.
• Tiling to the Atrium and exhibition space is now complete.
• Cleanroom construction works are complete and we are now moving into protocol level 4.
• House gases installations now complete and tested.
• Atrium lift installation is complete with flashings and cosmetic works ongoing.
• Electrical cabling out to external lighting / security is ongoing.
• External steam / condensate diversion through the site is now reconnected.
• Snagging progressing well to all floors.
• Project remains on track to have all physical works apart from snagging complete by end of November.
• Flushing / water treatment now complete.
• Balancing of water / air systems progressing.
• Main plant commissioning has been ongoing.

Works to be progressed over the following weeks

• Conclude all the majority of physical works with the next month.
• Joinery and soft floor finishes will be completed with final decorations ongoing.
• External works will be completed.
• Service yard works will conclude.
• Final connections on the steam main will be completed.
• Atrium feature light will be installed.
• Thermographic survey, acoustic testing and vibration testing to be complete in the next month.
• Snagging and back snagging will be ongoing throughout.
• Commission activities will continue in line with the latest programmes.
• Validation works to commence on basement close control spaces.
  
  
  
  

Our contractor, BAM, continue to work hard to keep disruption and noise to a minimum. Thank you to our students, staff and members of the public for their continued patience as work takes place.

Updated October 2020

This page is updated on a regular basis, however, if you would like any further advice or have a question please email us at campusdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

What happens after construction is complete in February 2021?

Following the completion of building construction the next phase is called fit out, hook-up and migration. This phase involves the practical elements of installing fixtures and fittings and specialist connections inside to enable equipment from the current labs and buildings to be moved over/ migrated into the new building. It is envisaged that this process will take approximately six months. This is because of the sheer scale and size of the building and the complexity and requirements of the specialist equipment that must be moved over.

During this time we will also be installing furniture and completing the AV installations in the building so it is ready for staff and students to use before the Autumn term commences in September 2021.

The hook-up works involve the connections to all the research equipment on a lab by lab basis. These connections and recommissioning of large items of equipment will be undertaken by a third party who are suitably qualified to carry out these works.
In time, we will share proposals on how we intend to migrate staff into their new office spaces within the building. We will also inform experimental officers and students on how to access their laboratory equipment whilst the building is still not open to all.

Our plans for general staff moving into the building will occur after the summer teaching term completes in 2021 but more precise details will follow nearer the time.

The safety of our staff and students remains a priority so we will continue to carry out migration and hook up activities in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

Who is leading the Migration process?

The considerations and planning for the migration is being addressed through a migration user group that has representatives from each academic school or research facility.

Membership is David Oldroyd (Estates Project Manager), James Young (ICEPS Programme Director), Charlene Taylor (Business Change), Gavin Burnell (Physics & Astronomy), Rik Drummond-Brydson (SCaPE, Bragg Centre), Edmund Linfield (Bragg Centre Director and Cleanroom), Mehmet Dogar (Computing), Peter Culmer (Robotics), Sarah Burdall (Faculty H&S), Jerry Lee (Faculty Facilities Manager), Adam Ives (Estates), Maggie Whitworth (Purchasing) and representatives from the migration and hook up company (IRIS).

If you have specific queries relating to migration please contact the Faculty Facilities Manager, School or research facility representative, who will be able to give you the most up to date information.

Who is doing the migration and hook up?

The complex and large volume of items that need to be moved into the new building is all contracted to be designed and overseen by a specialist company, IRIS. They have already started planning and meeting user groups to design all specialist systems.

Will I be able to get unrestricted access into the building during this time?

As all the fit out and migration activities are construction related, the building is still held under construction site regulations, and access is restricted to authorised and controlled access. As we migrate into the building this will enable us to free up areas for access, safeguarding the users from the construction works.

When can I see what the building looks like inside?

Due to Government social distancing guidelines it is currently not possible for us to offer guided tours of the building, except in managed and essential situations. However, you can see the latest internal and external photos at, https://estates.leeds.ac.uk/portfolio-item/sir-william-henry-bragg-building/

We will keep reassessing the situation and once it is safe to do so we will begin to offer building tours.

Over the next few weeks we plan to start building user awareness tours focusing on targeted areas. This is facilitated by Jerry Lee and BAM as part of our soft landing process.

What type of furniture will be going into the offices and can I see it?

During the early design stages we held a series of user feedback workshops to view and set an agreed model for the office furniture schemes. Going into the fit out process we will be conducting a brief consultation on the furniture that we plan to place in the offices and lab spaces. When we are ready to consult we will communicate this via Heads of School and invite you give your feedback. The consultation is likely to be online.

When can I see what my teaching space / office space will look like?

Visits will be restricted and controlled because of the extensive hook-up works the building will still be a live construction site initially. However, we will be sharing photos of the teaching and lab spaces as soon as they are ready. For the most up to date photos please view the gallery of images.

How can I find out which equipment will be migrated over?

The vast majority of items of equipment are moving to the new building but there are some items not moving due to equipment safety or they are being replaced. Also, there are items which will move to adjacent buildings (Chemistry building, Electronic & Electrical Engineering building). Your user group representative on the migration working group will be able to advise.

How can I find out when my school or group will move into the new building?

We will be sending out further communications on target dates for all schools and user groups, but we need to test these initially with the fit-out contractor. Each group / school will be staggered due to the high volumes of moves required.

Initially we will be focusing on laboratory fit out and equipment migration followed by staff moves. Essential experimental staff will migrate when it is safe to do so with their specialist equipment. The majority of staff moves will then follow after teaching completes. This will apply for the school of Computing, Physics and Astronomy, Bragg and Robotics. Packing crates will be issued to all staff well in advance of move dates. We will of course need to phase each user groups/schools moves to ensure we comply with social distancing.

With Covid-19 being an ongoing issue can you confirm how the building ventilation works?

This large building is fully mechanically ventilated with circulated through duct work and filters along with fresh air inlets which is circulated around the building.

If you are not moving directly into the new building and you are part of associated ICEPS projects (such as the FEPS Integrated Workshops, NMR suite, Condensed Matter Physics group or the Helium Recovery unit) these are later phases of construction which will follow on after the main building migration. These projects have a separate programme of works and will commence in 2021 further details on these project can be made available via your allocated school representative for the migration working group (details above on pages 1-2).