In the first of a series of occasional articles on the UAS's forthcoming accommodation moves, Registrary Dr Jonathan Nicholls explains why the relocations are important and what the benefits for the UAS and its staff are.
As a place to work, Greenwich House will be transformed into light, modern office space. There will be a café serving snacks and refreshments, as well as kitchen areas, showers, and enhanced cycle parking.
Dr Jonathan Nicholls, Registrary
A number of teams in the UAS will be moving to Greenwich House at the end of the 2015 calendar year. The areas affected are: Estate Management; Research Operations; the Pensions Office; Personal and Professional Development; Recruitment and Compliance; the Safety Office and the University Biomedical Support Services.
These moves are an important part of the UAS’s accommodation strategy, which has at its heart the creation of three professional hubs – Greenwich House, the Old Schools and the new Student Services Centre.
These hubs will bring together people in similar roles, who have the range of skills needed to meet important challenges, in modern office environments that I hope will foster a sense of shared purpose and creativity.
I think that there is much to be excited about with these moves. Colleagues working in Greenwich House will be at the intersection of two new campuses – West Cambridge, which will be a new locus for University research and teaching, and North West Cambridge, with all the amenities that development will offer.
As a place to work, Greenwich House will be transformed into light, modern office space. There will be a café serving snacks and refreshments, as well as kitchen areas, showers, and enhanced cycle parking. Those based there will be close to the new Cambridge Sports Centre and, in time, the new supermarket at North-West Cambridge.
I would like to reassure people that a lot of time and effort is going into the planning and preparation of the moves. A group of representatives from each of the affected UAS areas has, for a number of months, been considering many of the operational details of the relocation, such as interior design, office furniture, meeting rooms, car parking, shower and changing facilities, security, and the logistics of the moves themselves. They have taken on board a lot of feedback from individuals and teams along the way.
As far as the refurbishment of Greenwich House is concerned, work is progressing well and on course for a December transition. We are considering the possibility of site visits at a suitable point in the future.
I hope to be in touch on further progress shortly.