FAQs
general
Where will the new campus be?
It will be a twin site campus with the main campus on Cathedral Street in the city centre (the City Campus) and a smaller campus on the Clyde at Nautical College (the Riverside Campus).
What is the project going to cost?
We are working to a budget of up to £300m from the Scottish Funding Council. Actual costs have not yet been finalised.
Is your funding secure?
Our funding won’t be formally secured until we submit our full business case to the Scottish Funding Council in autumn 2010. However, we meet regularly with the Scottish Funding Council and are assured of their commitment to the project.
When will the new campus be ready?
We are aiming to move the College into the new campus in 2014/2015.
Will there be halls of residence for students?
The plan is like-for-like replacement – so there will be halls for the young cadets of the Nautical College but not for the other Colleges. The site for the new halls has still to be decided.
Who is keeping the project on track?
New Campus Glasgow Limited was set up as a small independent company with the right mix of expertise to reflect the scale and complexity of the estates project. The team reports to a Board with an Independent Chair, the senior management of the College, members of the College Board and independent industry experts. A range of expect advisers is working with the team to bring specialist knowledge on legal, financial, technical and project management issues.
How will the merger affect the new campus?
The merger is good for the new campus project. We are able to design for one client rather than three and the sharing of resources across the campus means we can provide even better value for money.
Won’t the current financial climate put the project at risk?
We believe it will be good for the economy. It will give an uplift to the construction industry, provide opportunities for apprentices and attract more students to come and live and work here. Our costs and plans factor in current property values for selling-on and buying land so our forecasts are realistic.
How will the city centre cope with more students and staff?
There’s no growth in student numbers built in at the moment (this is policy of the Scottish Funding Council) – the staff and student numbers are what the Colleges already manage so there will be no impact on the city centre.
the design
Who is designing the new campus?
Atkins are our architects and are leading a multi-disciplinary design team to create the new campus. Atkins have won a number of architectural awards and have a strong track record in educational design.
Where can I see designs for the new campus?
Atkins are currently working on the concept designs for the new campus. We expect final images to be available to view from around Autumn 2010. The designs will go on display on the website, across the Colleges and will be used in public events.
How has the College been involved in shaping the design?
The College has had considerable input into the design process. The design team have meet regularly with support services and curriculum representatives throughout the briefing process and will continue to do so while the designs are developed.
How are my views being taken into account?
We are undertaking an extensive engagement programme alongside the project to meet and communicate regularly with staff, students and external stakeholders – from politicians to local residents. Informal feedback is managed through the engagement programme whereby we track issues raised and report on updates. At specific points in the project we seek formal feedback through our consultation events, questionnaires and on-line surveys. All feedback is recorded and reported and we incorporate the appropriate feedback into the design process.
Where will my area be in the new campus?
We won’t know detailed layouts until late 2010. When these are available they will be shared with staff and students.
the build
When you will start construction?
We aim to start clearing the sites we are building on after the end of term in 2011.
Who has been appointed as the contractor?
We have not appointed a contractor yet. We are aiming to begin the procurement process in early 2011. The tender will be advertised via OJEU and on our website.
Where will we be building on the sites?
At the City Campus we will be building on the existing Allan Glens site. At Riverside, we will be building on the existing site of the Nautical College.
What will happen to the buildings we’re not using?
When the build is completed we aim to sell off the buildings we no longer require. This includes the Charles Oakley building and Met Tower.
Will the College be affected while the building work happens?
We are planning ‘business as usual’ as much as possible throughout the build period. Classes will continue as normal, but some classes may be relocated out of the Allan Glens campuses to enable building work on this site. Where we have to relocate classes, this will be well planned out in advance of the move.
Where will we move to?
The exact details of the decant process are still being developed. There are a number of options which are being reviewed. These include moving into spare space in other buildings (Charles Oakley or Met Tower) or purchasing temporary facilities. We are going through detailed engagement with the College at the moment to agree this.
parking
Will we lose parking spaces?
The proposals for the new campus include a provision for parking which is less than the College currently has. Parking levels are set by Glasgow City Council and the lower provision reflects the accessibility of both campuses by public transport. To help, the team are preparing a Green Travel Plan which will promote accessibility by pedestrian, cycle or public transport.
How will the remaining parking spaces be allocated?
The College will review how to allocate parking spaces when the final provision is advised by the City Council.
I’m a local resident – how will you stop people parking on my street?
We are working with Glasgow City Council to address this potential issue and have written to Glasgow Housing Association to formalise the concerns of local residents. Ultimately, it will be up to the Council and the Housing Association to implement parking restrictions, but we will continue to work with both agencies and local residents to come up with a solution. New Campus Glasgow and the City of Glasgow College will continue to be pro-active in managing the issue.
Will there be student parking?
Given the limited number of parking spaces available we do no foresee any student parking. Ultimately however, this will be a decision made by the College.
How will staff and students travel between campuses?
The overall estate is being designed to minimise the need to travel between campuses for learning and teaching. Beyond this, we are working on possible solutions for the fast and efficient transfer of staff and students between campuses as part of the Green Travel Plan.
the community
What’s the impact on the local community?
Obviously the local community will be affected during the construction. However, the new campus will improve the local areas and will act as a catalyst for the continuing regeneration of Glasgow’s communities. We anticipate that the quality of buildings and facilities we will provide will be a source of pride within the local communities.
Will the public be able to access the facilities?
We want to make sure the new campus adds something to its surrounding neighbourhoods. While the campus will have the needs of learners at its heart, we will be looking for opportunities for local people to feel part of the campus. And of course we will make sure the public spaces surround the buildings are open, friendly and safe.
How will you make sure the new buildings are secure?
Externally, spaces will be well lit and designed with security and safety in mind. Internally, we want to encourage public access in the right areas of the new buildings. A variety of security solutions are being looked at to make sure that this ambition can be realised without posing a risk to more private areas of the building. At present, we envisage that secure entry would be required beyond the main public spaces.
sustainability
What is your BREEAM target?
Our target is to achieve an overall rating of ‘Excellent’ for new buildings and our ambition is to achieve ‘Outstanding’ on an element of the new building. Our target for refurbished buildings is ‘Very Good’.
What are your sustainability objectives?
We aim to be sustainable in all aspects of the design, construction and management of the buildings. We are working to very strict targets set by BREEAM on the design and construction aspects. In addition to this we will be adopting a sustainable energy strategy which could play a key role in the Sustainable Glasgow initiative.
facilities and curriculum
What facilities will the new College offer?
The new campus will offer all of the facilities you would expect from a leading College. Learning spaces will be flexibly designed to accommodate a range of learning styles – from group work to private study. Social support spaces will include a state of the art learning centre, student services centre, refectory and student union. All spaces will be of a much higher quality than the College currently has.
What courses will be offered?
The final course offering will be agreed between the College and the Scottish Funding Council. However, as a general rule, existing courses offered by the College will still be offered, but may be altered slightly to reflect the integration of the College curriculum.
Will I have to move between campuses for classes?
No – the campuses are being designed so that curriculum areas are not split across campuses.
Will all the support facilities only be available at the City Campus?
No, smaller versions of all support services will be available at the Riverside Campus as well.
