Like many operations across the University, COVID-19 impacted all our major construction projects, putting a pause and introducing subsequent delays on much of our design and development work.

In mid-March all construction activity ceased across campus, in particular on the James McCune Smith Learning Hub and the Western sites, and it was only from mid-June that we have been able to reintroduce operatives back onsite in reduced numbers, subject to strict new physical distancing and hygiene protocols and guidance from the construction industry and Scottish Government.

James McCune Smith Learning Hub

These delays have obviously impacted on the delivery dates for each project, and over recent weeks and months we have been working with our contractors to fully understand the changes to how we will deliver our major projects and the impacts on the University’s wider Capital Plan.

Even now the full implications of the pandemic remain unclear as we work through the longer-term implications for some of our future developments. We are now however in a good position to update on the next steps for our Campus Development Programme.

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Both the Clarice Pears Building and the Adam Smith Business School and Postgraduate Hub remain on pause at the current time. The Clarice Pears Building is at an early stage of construction and we expect to agree very soon, a revised programme at a point when we know we can support more people onsite. We have also agreed a 12 month deferral period for the ASBS & PGH, and it is right that we do so as we understand better the full financial impact and restrictions of COVID-19 in the longer-term.

It is important to note that the University remains in a strong financial position, and we remain committed to delivering all of the projects that we currently have in development and advanced design stages.

Following a full revision of each programme, we can confirm the new expected delivery dates for each of these projects:

JMSLH

Completion – Q4 2020

Occupation – Q1 2021

Research Hub

Completion - Q4 2021

Occupation - Q1 2022

Infrastructure

University Avenue completion – Q4 2020 (JMSLH) and remainder Q4 2021

University Place completion – Q4 2020 (Wolfson and OTC area) and remainder Q4 2021 (in phases)

Western campus completion – Research Hub area, Q4 2021 and around Clarice Pears Building, Q1 2022

Clarice Pears Building (Institute of Health & Wellbeing)

Completion – Q2 2022

Occupation – Q3 2022

Adam Smith Business School & Postgraduate Hub

Completion – tbc 

Occupation – tbc  

For more information on our Campus Development Programme, please visit our webpages.

First published: 27 August 2020

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