Page 6 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

GENERAL NEWS

Hawkshead Campus developments

t is exactly 100 years since the from RG Carter (our contractors) are now
idea of a rural RVC campus was conducting final surveys and levelling
first documented. While the proposal the ground before creating an attractive,
Ididn’t meet with much approval back multi-purpose landscaped courtyard and
in 1922, there was one supportive voice electric vehicle charging zone.
noted in the RVC’s committee minutes. We have continued the green
Sir Merrick Burrell, Chairman of the theme elsewhere on the campus,
Board of Governors was recorded with the creation of a series of
bemoaning the ‘‘lack of gardens, trees wildflower mini-meadows. On the main
and more spacious layouts’’ in the RVC reported lost. As well as housing most lawn and alongside TaRC we have now
estate. It appears that the importance of the scientists from the MCB, the planted oxeye daisies, meadowsweet,
placed on working environments and project also delivered new research cowslips and yarrow to support British
well-being are really nothing new! accommodation for our colleagues from pollinator species. To provide shade
the Clinical Investigation Centre, as well
When Eclipse was published last for our staff and students, and support
autumn, we were gearing up to receive as future accommodation for numerous the local bird population, we have also
the first stage of the construction small-medium sized business partners. planted two dozen new trees – field
project – the new Centre for It wasn’t all plain sailing. Offices next maple, beech, pines and common oak –
Vaccinology & Regenerative Medicine to the unfinished atrium space were which will improve our environment for
(CVRM) along with the remodelled more than a little chilly in the early many years to come.
Teaching and Research Centre (TaRC) days, but with the roof and glazing now With the TaRC/CVRM spaces fully
areas. While we didn’t quite make it in complete, it is a bright, modern and warm operational, focus shifted to the launch
time for Christmas, first thing in 2022 working environment. of the new Student Learning Centre
the movers came in and we packed Once all staff were relocated, we (SLC). This will deliver a range of ‘‘social
up the remaining parts of the Main were able to turn our attention to the learning space’’ (informal student study
Clinical Block (MCB) and populated remains of the MCB. By June we had areas), directed learning rooms, a
the new offices and laboratories.
removed all the asbestos from under large capacity lecture theatre, a flexible
In just under three days, we moved the floors and sorted all the recyclable interactive lecture theatre not to mention
62 people, their IT equipment and materials. By the end of August, we a brand new library and a massive
300 crates of books and research had demolished the superstructure and student teaching laboratory. As you
records, and not a single item was broken out the foundations. The team read this we are starting to commission

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