Dear colleagues,
All staff are reminded of the following arrangements with respect to Estates related services over the festive break:
1 - CATERING SERVICES
The following arrangements apply to University catering outlets
Aberbean Macrobert – closed from Friday 13 December until Monday 6 January 2025
Aberbean Hardback Café - closed from Friday 20 December until Monday 6 January 2025
Café at the Suttie Centre - closed from Friday 20 December until Monday 6 January 2025
Food Court in the SUB – closed from Friday 20 December until Monday 6 January 2025
2 - ENERGY AND HEATING ARRANGEMENTS
The University is closed – therefore we will be operating a setback / frost protection regime in the interests of minimising unnecessary energy use, whilst ensuring that buildings are fully frost-protected. This will take effect from 20 December and remain in place until the University reopens on 6 January 2025, when all buildings will be heated again in time for occupancy. A small number of buildings have been excluded from the shutdown for operational/business critical reasons in discussion with occupants. Hot water services will remain fully operational throughout closure to prevent legionella risk. An exception to this is the Macrobert Building where the Ground and First Floors will be heated. Special requests for heating during this period should be directed to estates@abdn.ac.uk where the merits will be assessed and implemented if business critical.
Please
- ensure that all non-essential lights are switched off when the last person leaves for the holidays. This includes office lights / desk lamps and any decorative lights.
- turn off any non-essential appliances which can be switched off over the Christmas break eg PCs, monitors, photocopiers, fax machines, laboratory equipment etc.
Please note also that all AC units for cooling of freezer rooms will be left on.
3 - FACILITIES SERVICES
Security
The University Security team will be on duty throughout the Christmas/New Year period, contact telephone number 01224 273327.
Cleaning Services
All cleaning, portering and related activities and services will cease from close of play on 20 December and recommence on 6 January 2025. This includes at Marischal College, the National Decommissioning Centre, Balgownie Pavilion, the Hillhead Centre, Cromarty Field Station and the Inverurie Storage Facility.
There will be limited basic cover provided for the Macrobert building and at Foresterhill between Christmas and New Year.
Waste uplifts
Waste and recycling uplifts for the University will stop on 20 December and will restart on 6 January.
If you have residual waste in your area immediately prior to the break (especially food waste) please ensure you remove and take out your rubbish by close of play on 20 December, including food, packaging, bottles, etc. Please also ensure you remove perishables from fridges.
Travel & Transport
The 9U shuttle bus will stop at 18.15 on Friday 20 December and restart at 07:50 on Monday 6 January.
Mail Room Arrangements
The Mailroom at Dunbar Street, Kings Campus will be closed from 5pm on Friday 20 December and reopen on 9am on Monday 6 January 2025. As such there will be no outgoing mail service between these dates. Incoming mail during this period will be delivered and stored within the Mailroom, but not distributed until Monday 6 January.
The mail service will continue at the Polwarth Mailroom, Foresterhill during this period, other than on the public holidays of 25 & 26 December and 1 & 2 January 2025.
General Building Security
Staff are reminded that the University campuses are officially closed (locked down) and not operational, with no heating over the closure period, with only certain exceptions.
Prior to leaving for the festive season, please ensure that
- all office doors and windows are closed and locked
- curtains and blinds are drawn in your work area, including in teaching / seminar rooms, prior to leaving for the Christmas break
- valuables and documentation are locked away securely.
Access
For staff who have pre-authorised access through their School or Directorate, or are on the business-critical / emergency response list, if you attend campus over the break please ensure you
- have registered with and activated your Safezone app, and actively use it, so Security are aware of your presence on campus
- contact Security when you are on campus to advise them of where you are and how long you intend being here
- contact Security when you leave
4 - SNOW CLEARANCE
Old Aberdeen
There will be no snow clearing in Old Aberdeen from 20 December to 5 January inclusive. Please contact Security if snow clearing or gritting is required.
Medical School
Medical School Car Parks and a minimal area of paving will be kept clear, except on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.
Hillhead Student Village
The main access road and a minimal area of paving will be kept clear except on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.
National Decommissioning Centre (Newburgh) & ISF (Inverurie Storage Facility)
There will be no snow clearing and gritting on 25 and 26 December as well as 1 and 2 January. Outwith these dates our contractor will carry out snow clearing and gritting as and when required. Please contact Security on 01224 273327.
Wishing all our colleagues across the University an enjoyable festive season!
With sincerest thanks for your support through the year.
The Estates and Facilities team