About St Mary's
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Campus Improvements
The last five years has continued to see major capital investment including new residential accommodation, classroom refurbishments and the i-learn Café and Learning Resources Centre upgrades. Additionally, the new Dol.che Vita coffee bar opened in 2006 and the £4million refectory and conference centre was completed in 2008.
Going forward, a further £4million over the next four years is to be invested in a range of planned maintenance and refurbishment projects across the campus.
Sports Centre
The £8.5 million sports facility project will create a single centre by linking the new facility to the existing games hall and original 1960s sports block, which will be refurbished at the same time.
In addition to giving a huge boost to sport at the University College it will also facilitate the work of academic programmes in sport, health and physical education, as well as enabling St Mary’s to do even more for the external community though a number of partnerships.
Proposed floor plan (PDF File) • More images of the Sports Centre's design
N Block Lecture Theatre
The new N Block Lecture Theatre opened in Spring 2010 and has a seating capacity of up to 110. It is the final phase of the Refectory project, which sees the former kitchen and stores being converted for teaching and office purposes.
The N Block conversion also features fifteen desk spaces in three open plan offices around the lecture theatre. The teaching space comprises a combination of fixed and retractable lecture hall seating enabling flexibility of use.
Earlier in the year a new lecture theatre was opened in N block following the conversion from the old kitchens. As part of this project new office space was created that has now undergone further modification to provide a much needed central location for the Registry Department.
The new suite provides office space as well as dedicated reception areas and separate interview room. The building has also benefitted from the introduction of energy reduction to heating and improved thermal insulation. Lighting has also been fitted with movement sensors to reduce waste and treated glazing used to reduce heat loss.
Externally the Suite has a disabled access ramp and new canopy to offer protection during poor weather as well as landscaping to the newly created courtyard. Modifications to the Lecture theatre entrance and exits are also scheduled to take place over the coming weeks.
L Block
A New Roof
L Block was constructed in the 1950's and has over recent years, suffered from increasing problems with water ingress to the labs and office space as a result of leaks from the damaged and decaying flat roof.
As part of the attention to 'backlog maintenance' a design was tendered to replace the roof with a new 'Permanite' two ply system, offering improved thermal insulation and UV protection.
In September 2010 works were completed that saw the removal of the old roof glasshouse bases and redundant equipment. A survey has since been carried out to look at the application of solar film to windows that will contribute to thermal efficiency in both winter and summer. Further investigation is also under way and consideration being given as to boiler de-centralisation and replacement with localized energy efficient systems.
Lighting
Various improvements have been under way across the campus that have seen many of the older halogen lamps removed and replaced with low energy and more efficient lighting systems. Where new pathways have been created the lighting has now been extended to these areas.
As part on ongoing works it in anticipated that internal corridor and room lighting shall be improved to incorporate moment detectors and low energy lighting units as part of the University College's commitment to Carbon reduction.
New Courtyard Created
As part of the roads and paths improvements programme, a project was undertaken over the summer to create a pedestrian area in which students could meet or that could be used for smaller open air events.
The area includes a new compliant disabled ramp, additional ramp to assist with SU deliveries, raised planting areas, enhanced lighting and seating for students and a widened pathway giving dedicated pedestrian access to the SU re-decorations to adjacent areas.
Further improvements are planned over the coming months that shall see the installation of knee rails and automated doors to the Shannon corridor.
Strawberry Hill House and the Waldegrave Suite
The Strawberry Hill Trust is currently in the final stages of an extensive project to restore Strawberry Hill House to its original design. Final external works and landscaping shall continue into early 2011 and the House is open for tours.
The adjacent Waldegrave Suite recently underwent redecoration.
Teddington Lock
Proposed Floodlighting at Teddington Lock
Just over three years ago, in partnership and with significant funding from the Local Authority the Teddington Lock all weather pitch was replaced as part of a project that was to include the installation of floodlighting. Following submission to the internal University College investment fund, Sport St Marys has been granted funds to now progress this element of the project to completion.
Over the summer months, various meetings with designers and the Local Authority have been carried out as have various bat, noise and light surveys culminating in a residential consultation. All of the aforementioned have now been carried out and currently we await the final report on light levels before submitting a full planning application which is anticipated to be in November 2010. St Marys is working closely with teams from the Local Authority to progress this.
Teddington Lock General Improvements
The pavilion building has now been re-roofed and decorated ad a localized heating system is currently being costed in order to provide additional teaching space for the site. As this is being prepared, works are already underway to replace the roof to the main change building following which further internal improvements are planned to shower and changing room areas.
