Reports

First-stage Report of the Council on the restructuring and rationalization of hospital facilities for the Department of Veterinary Medicine at West Cambridge
First-stage Report of the Council on the construction of a new building for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at West Cambridge

First-stage Report of the Council on the restructuring and rationalization of hospital facilities for the Department of Veterinary Medicine at West Cambridge

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In this Report the Council is seeking approval in principle for the restructuring and rationalization of hospital facilities for the Department of Veterinary Medicine on the West Cambridge site as set out below.

2. Various sections of the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital have, over time and through cost considerations, been distributed across the site which has affected the efficiencies of the work environment and operational needs. There is inadequate provision of consulting rooms and present locations do not provide a satisfactory work flow. Toilet facilities for clients are limited and disabled facilities, though available, are not in a convenient location for use from the reception/consulting areas. The Clinical Pathology laboratories are separate from the main Hospital building. Clinical skills laboratories do not presently form part of the facilities for students, and clinical research is limited within existing rooms.

3. The scheme involves the demolition of an existing restroom, entrance lobby, corridor, and unused spaces between the main Hospital reception and the Small Animal Wards (SAW) that total a gross internal area of 195.5 sq. m. (2,104 sq. ft). These demolitions and the open space between the reception and the SAW provides a significant site area into which it is proposed to insert a part single storey and part two storey building. The new build areas are complemented by changes in part to layout of the SAW, surgical suite, and main Hospital building. The Hospital facilities and the new Clinical Skills Laboratories are all contained within the proposed ground floor plan and the first floor area supports the enlarged Clinical Pathology Laboratories.

4. The academic benefits of the scheme will be the provision of (i) purpose-designed consulting areas to enhance client experience and promote flow of cases through the Hospital; (ii) state-of-the-art embedded clinical pathology laboratories to facilitate the rapid processing of samples and ease of communication between clinical pathologists and clinicians; (iii) a Clinical Skills Laboratory to enhance the teaching of clinical and communication skills to 200 clinical veterinary undergraduates; (iv) clinical research areas to enable investigation of caseload to improve patient outcomes. The improved toilet facilities will benefit all staff and clients, in particular those with disabilities.

5. The new building work shown in the accompanying plan would be constructed in two phases and would provide a total additional gross internal area of 740 sq. m. (7,962 sq. ft). Careful phasing will be required in order that the hospital continues to fully function during the building works.

6. The estimated cost of the total project is £3m with all funding provided by the Department of Veterinary Medicine. No significant incremental running costs are anticipated for the new facilities.

7. It is hoped to submit a planning application during July 2012 in order to let a contract so that work can begin no later than January 2013.

8. Further details relating to the design, maintenance, and recurrent costs will be brought to future meetings of the Buildings Committee and the Planning and Resources Committee. A Second-stage Report will be published later this year.

9. Drawings of the proposed scheme are displayed for the information of the University on p. 762 and in the Schools Arcade.

10. The Council recommends:

I. That approval in principle be given for the construction of part new-build and part-refurbishment of the Hospital at the Department of Veterinary Medicine as described in this Report.

II. That the Director of Estate Management be authorized to apply for detailed planning approval in due course.

Drawing of the Proposed Scheme

30 June 2012	L. K. Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor	I. M. Le M. Du Quesnay	Mavis McDonald
	David Abulafia	Nicholas Gay	Susan Oosthuizen
	N. Bampos	David Good	Rachael Padman
	Richard Barnes	Andy Hopper	T. Parry-Jones
	D. J. A. Casserley	Christopher Hum	John Shakeshaft
	Stephen J. Cowley	F. P. Kelly	Gerard Tully
	Athene Donald	Vanessa V. Lawrence	Morgan Wild
	R. J. Dowling	Robert Lethbridge	A. D. Yates

First-stage Report of the Council on the construction of a new building for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at West Cambridge

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In this Report the Council is seeking approval in principle for the construction of a new building for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology on the West Cambridge Site as set out below.

2. The West Cambridge Master Plan was approved by the Regent House by Grace 8 of 14 May 1997 and outline planning approval for the Master Plan was obtained in April 1999. The Master Plan incorporates extensive infrastructure support, and a land-use mix including: University teaching and research facilities; research organizations including incubator units for science-based businesses; shared amenities – sports facilities, cafes, shops, and campus centre facilities; residential use – accommodation for University staff and postgraduates including a nursery; and a park-and-cycle facility.

3. The Council now proposes that a new building be constructed on the West Cambridge site, consistent with the Master Plan, for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB). There has been a longstanding intention to relocate the Department to the West Cambridge site and the relocation has been identified as a top priority in the strategic plan of the School of Technology. The new building will enable the entire Department to relocate to West Cambridge from the centre of Cambridge.

4. CEB currently occupies old buildings on the New Museums Site, with some Biotechnology research based at Tennis Court Road and the Magnetic Resonance Research Centre at West Cambridge. Across these locations the Department’s current net useable area is 5,510 sq. m. An Area Needs Analysis and feasibility study were carried out by architects, BDP, in consultation with CEB, to determine the area and type of space required. The studies concluded that a new building should provide a net usable area of 6,734 sq. m. and a gross internal area (GIA) of 11,223 sq. m. It is possible that shell space (space to be fitted out in the future for growth and for the provision of incubators) will be added to the scheme giving a total net usable area of 7,034 sq. m. and a GIA of 11,723 sq. m. The space analysis was endorsed by the Resource Management Committee on 21 March 2012.

5. The proposed building will provide state of the art facilities for research and teaching in a single location. Considerable efficiency benefits, therefore, are expected. The key aims of the project are:

• to encourage greater interaction and interdisciplinary working;

• to provide facilities in a safe working environment which are better suited to current research;

• to provide flexible space that can be adapted, in the future, as requirements change;

• to create a building that will facilitate teaching, learning, and research in a pleasant environment;

• to create a centre for CEB with a distinctive presence at West Cambridge.

6. The building will include biology, chemistry, and engineering research laboratories which have demanding vibration, acoustic, and electromagnetic environmental needs, in addition to providing for a very extensive teaching programme. The proposed location, between the Institute for Manufacturing and the Department of Materials Science, on Charles Babbage Road, is shown on the plan below. The site is provided with roads and key services.

7. The total cost of the project has been estimated at £60m. Funding of £1,897,750 has already been confirmed from the Capital Fund, the School of Technology, and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology for the purpose of developing the design. The project cost is based on a start on site in 2013 with completion in 2015.

8. Further details relating to the design, maintenance, and recurrent costs, with proposals for funding, will be brought to future meetings of the Buildings Committee and the Planning and Resources Committee. A Second-stage Report will be published later this year.

9. Drawings of the proposed scheme are displayed for the information of the University on p. 763 and in the Schools Arcade.