As part of the campus development plans approved by the University Court in December last year, the first major project - the Learning and Teaching Hub (LTH) - will commence on site in late October/early November 2017, writes Professor Frank Coton, Convenor of the Learning and Teaching Hub Project Delivery Board.

Heras fencing has now been erected around the site and enabling works, being carried out by John Graham (Holdings) Ltd, are already underway to prepare the site for the main construction works and also to demolish the Maths and Stats building.  As you know, Maths and Stats staff and students have now moved to their new temporary home on the former Western Infirmary site.

This work is likely to last from May to October when the main contractor, the Programme Delivery Partner – announced yesterday as Multiplex - will take over the site to start the main works.  Once that happens, the heras fencing will be replaced by full hoardings for the duration of the works with occupation scheduled for September 2019. 

All efforts will be made to minimise noise and disruption to business operations around the site during the enabling and construction works and we will provide regular updates via MyGlasgow news on progress to ensure you are kept up to date with construction activities. 

More information for users of the Boyd Orr Building 

The biggest impact of the construction of the Learning and Teaching Hub will clearly be upon users of the Boyd Orr building as the new LTH is to be joined to the Boyd Orr on three levels and a refurbishment programme is to be carried out in parts of the Boyd Orr. With the enabling works now underway, I also wanted to inform you of the nature of the full programme over the next couple of years:

  • Asbestos strip-out and demolition of the Maths & Stats building from the end of July to the end of September;
  • Diversion of services within the Boyd Orr car park area (IT, telephone cabling, water);
  • Relocation of the High Voltage (HV) transformer on Level 1 of Boyd Orr: this will involve an electrical shutdown of the building at a point to be agreed;
  • Preparatory groundworks in the Boyd Orr car park;
  • Asbestos removal in Boyd Orr;
  • Relocation of some facilities and activity within Boyd Orr to accommodate the connection to the Hub;
  • Construction of the new Learning and Teaching Hub;
  • Internal refurbishment of some common areas of Boyd Orr;
  • A re-clad of Boyd Orr along similar lines to the work carried out in the Library;
  • A phased upgrade of mechanical and electrical systems in Boyd Orr.

In addition to the above, various other smaller works are planned to the building, including local upgrades and refurbishments on Levels 3, 4 and 6 over the summer months.

We shall follow up with further details of timings of the works within the building in due course and we will work with you and colleagues in timetabling and business continuity to minimise disruption as far as possible. We shall also provide regular updates on progress of works via a new Boyd Orr Building Users Group which is being set up.

Let us know

To inform the phasing and co-ordination of the currently-planned works and possible future works, it is important that we understand how occupiers are using the local spaces in the Boyd Orr building. Specifically, we need to be aware of any critical activities/processes that might be impacted by the works so that we can take mitigating action. We are looking to gather information on any activities that require specific continuous environmental conditions or continuous uninterrupted services (water, air, lighting etc), specific IT requirements/links to 3rd party servers, or any other critical working requirements at as early a stage as possible.  This will allow us to put appropriate plans in place to support user needs.

With this in mind, I should be obliged it you would provide contact details for the most appropriate person for your area of activity that can advise on your specific needs.  These contact details should be given to the project development manager for the LTH, Ruth MacDonald, at Ruth.MacDonald@glasgow.ac.uk or telephone 07753 277389 – so that arrangements can be made for Ruth to meet that person and to understand your requirements.

The various works outlined above should greatly improve the utility and working environment in the Boyd Orr building and all efforts will be made to minimise noise and disruption to business operations during the works. I should very much appreciate your support and co-operation as we embark on our journey to developing a world-changing campus.

Any questions?

If you have any queries on the LTH works, please email LT-hub-enquiries@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 26 May 2017

<< 2017