Our Strategy in action: Sustainable estate

New Research Grid in the Science Library Opens to Graduate Students

On February 1st the new Research Grid opened its doors to graduates. Already proving to be hugely popular, the new learning space on the 4th floor of the Science Library provides graduates with state of the art study facilities for collaborative research and project work, and areas for more private study.

Designed by Burwell Deakins Architects the spacious 74-seat study suite is equipped with many features requested by graduate students during consultation at the design stage. The new Grid has refreshment facilities, a hot drinks vending machine and a bank of graduate lockers for students to use for belongings. Audio visual facilities in the new Grid have been improved to allow large groups to present their research, while a meeting room, which can accommodate up to 6 users, can be booked for smaller collaborative sessions. Wifi provision in the space has also been extensively upgraded.

New facilities:

• Private Skype point.
• 24 all-in-one Desktop PCs.
• Hot drinks vending machine and a hot water point for tea and coffee.
• Graduate lockers.
• Graduate meeting room.
• Areas for social study and individual study.
• Print/copy/scan.

Prof David Bogle Pro-Vice-Provost of the Doctoral School said:-

“I would like to congratulate Library Services on behalf of the research student community for the great new Research Grid. It is light and spacious with many more desks than the previous facility. Particularly impressive are the large screen AV facilities and provision of an area for communicating with collaborators by Skype. I encourage all research students to have a look – and to use it.”

Construction starts on the New Student Centre

From February 2016, construction of the New Student Centre will begin work continues on Transforming UCL. This exciting project will deliver a new 1,000-seat learning hub for UCL at the heart of the Bloomsbury campus. It will include a central Student & Registry Services desk providing information and support to students enrolled on programmes of study at UCL and UCL alumni. The learning spaces, ranging from quiet individual seats to group working rooms and media suites, will be managed by UCL Library Services. Opening in 2018, the New Student Centre will establish UCL as the most exciting university in the world to study and work, fulfilling the vision set in UCL 2034.

During the period of construction, which begins with the demolition of an external staircase, there will be significant disruption, particularly for users of the UCL Main Library. UCL is working closely with contractors Mace to minimise noise and vibration generated by the work. Additional study space is being provided in the UCL Senate House Hub and current students can find additional information from Library Services on where to study.

Sarah Custard, Library Buildings Assistant