Overall the STEM project continues to progress well and we are on track according to the current programme.
We will take handover of the office areas of Sheaf level 2 next Thursday (31 Mar). Although this is around a week later than planned, there was always some flexibility in this date and we decided to take advantage of it to ensure that finishing works are completed to the standard we would expect before we take possession. This won’t affect the timescale for the area coming back into use by staff. The remainder of this level, including the SCALE UP room and IT suite, will be handed back to us towards the end of April and fit-out work is continuing in these areas. A new roof and guttering are also being planned for level 2 to solve some of the issues with water run-off that have been identified.
To support further works in Sheaf, room 4018 has been converted to a temporary helpdesk and admin team office, and moves are ongoing during the Easter break. More than 40 staff members will have relocated by the end of this month to free up areas for the next phase of work, mostly decanting from Sheaf level 1 to areas of Sheaf levels 3, 2 and 0. Revised signage is being installed to support these changes.
Demolition of the stairs on level 2 EMB is continuing out of hours, from around 5.30pm-6.00pm each day until 2.00am, although this should be completed before the end of this week. Removal of the stairs leading to Pond Street will take place over Easter which should ensure that much of the noisiest work is completed outside teaching time, although disruption will continue intermittently throughout the project. With the majority of this heavy demolition work completed, we will soon be at the stage when the impressive new Atrium will start to be constructed. The project team are keen to ensure that staff and students can input into how the new space will function in terms of furniture, features and displays, for example, and a representative steering group is being pulled together to guide the delivery plan.
Finally, the contractors have confirmed that a tower crane will be erected on the old NMB site from mid-April, and ground preparation in this area has commenced.