Dear colleagues,
You may recall we announced last year the Reimagining our Campuses project and its remit to explore how our campuses at Old Aberdeen, Foresterhill and Hillhead could look in the years ahead.
Much progress has since been made both by members of the project team and our wider community, through a series of working groups, and here are just a few of the topics being discussed:
- Research & Innovation has been considering how best to configure the campuses to create a collaborative interconnected working environment fully fostering interdisciplinarity. It’s also been looking at how to embed innovation and commercial activity, how to ensure future proofed specialist research facilities, how best to enhance exhibitions and engagement activities and how to create a strong PGR experience for students on and off campus.
- Sustainable has been investigating the significant opportunity for onsite and offsite installation of renewable energy infrastructure, the transition away from gas fired heating into electrical heat generation, the adoption of a sustainable building standard and how the University can lead on sustainable local travel options.
- Education has been exploring strategies to optimise the use of our teaching rooms and wider campus spaces to support the delivery of excellent learning experiences. The group has also looked at how to configure teaching rooms to align with our principles of education delivery, including active learning enabling us to transition from large class teaching to small group discussions where the space and technology are designed to support staff to deliver their teaching effectively and efficiently.
- Inclusive, Accessible and Wellbeing has been looking at campus and building accessibility and better pedestrian routes, greenspace and connecting with nature, signage and wayfinding, providing facilities for all such as breastfeeding, first-aid and reflection rooms, gender neutral toilets and spaces that meet specific user needs, e.g. considering colour, acoustics, light, orientation and also sport and recreation facilities.
A range of ideas and proposals have been collated and staff and students are now invited to view, discuss, and give feedback on these at special drop-in sessions.
Emerging concepts include sectioning areas of the Old Aberdeen campus to help build identity and maximise the sharing of resources, for example creating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy), Innovation, Heritage, Commercial and Green Zones. A Health & Life Sciences Zone (on the Foresterhill site) is also proposed, building on the provision of high-quality health services, education and research by developing and enhancing the built and external environment and increasing the available student study and social space. Other campus proposals including consolidating underused space, maximising the use of existing open space and revisiting vehicle and pedestrian routes.
Organised by Project Board members and Estates & Facilities staff, the drop-in session details are as follows:
- Monday 25 March: Rowett Institute Meeting Room 1pm to 6pm
- Tuesday 26 March: Elphinstone Hall 12pm to 6pm
- Wednesday 27 March: Hillhead GP Hall 12pm to 6pm
There will also be unfacilitated displays on the ground floor of the SDR Library and in the Suttie Centre atrium / level 1 breakout area from 1 to 5 April.
Don’t miss your opportunity to help shape our future!
Best wishes
Pete and Morag
Pete Edwards
Vice-Principal Regional Engagement
Morag Beers
Director of Estates and Facilities