Building Redevelopment Update
Tuesday 21 Oct 2008
Work is well underway on phase two of the Beit Masterplan, the three phase project to modernise and make better use of the space in the Union Building, Beit Quadrangle. The first phase saw the installation of a new Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant lift as well as a new 2nd floor mezzanine level chair store, changing room shells on the 2nd floor mezzanine and 3rd floor and access improvements from daVinci’s to the Quad.
The second phase will see the completion of the new mezzanine level splitting what was the Union Gym in to two floors. The new floor created will be the home of a new Student Activities Centre (SAC) which will provide a larger and better-designed space for all of the Clubs & Societies to use as a base for their activities. Half of the SAC will be suspended from the ceiling with workstations and equipment for Club & Society use. The main Union Reception will also be housed in this area providing the first point of call for all visitors to the Union. The other half of the SAC will hold The Advice Centre, providing a more high profile space for our independent, impartial and free advice service. When the whole project is complete the space below the SAC will be the new Union Offices where the Sabbaticals and staff will work. It is hoped that by having the people that run the Union closer to the heartbeat of the organisation, the Clubs & Societies, it will help us stay more member focused.
The space freed up from where the old SAC was will be used to create brand new fully-equipped meeting rooms and Club & Society stores and in turn the space where the old meeting rooms were will be turned in to a state-of-the-art dance and activity space. This floor will be fitted with sprung floors, mirrored walls and brand new changing rooms offering a superb space for our Clubs & Societies to use throughout the year.
So, where are we now with all this work? Our team of builders have already made a good start to the new mezzanine level on the second floor. Work is also under way providing services to the new floors including networking, electricity and air conditioning. We are aiming to have all the work finished by the end of the Summer Term and will be completing these works in phases. We will keep you up-to-date with what is happening in Felix and on our website and hope that any disruptions caused by these works will be kept to a minimum.
The obvious aim of these works is to make our Union Building much more inline with what our members, you the students, want and need from it. Having been designed and built nearly 100 years ago, with additions made in the 1950s, the demands on it have changed massively; something that will be addressed during this project.
Artists impression of the new Student Activities Centre