estate strategy 2007-2017 - Publication Scheme - University of Stirling

where are we now: the existing estateSenior Deputy Principal (Academic Operations), hasbeen established to investigate methods of furtherincreasing the utilisation of teaching space. Thebenefits of improved utilisation are well recognisedand calculations using the Space ManagementGroup’s 4 efficiency multiplier have indicated thatimprovements in this area should be achievable andcould potentially release space for alternative uses.Significant refurbishment of teaching space hasbeen undertaken in recent years to ensure thefacilities can support changing technologies andmethods of teaching. The nature and extent of thework undertaken has been influenced and guidedby the University’s Learning Spaces Group whichwas established to advise on best practice in thedesign of learning spaces across the campus. Thegroup draws it membership from the academiccommunity and relevant service departments,and is advised by best practice reports on LearningSpaces such as those produced by Alexi MarmottAssociates and JISC. In addition, laboratory spacewas rationalised and reconfigured when theSchool of Biological and Environmental Scienceswas established.11.3 Use of Space Management Group metricsThe overall University estate has been benchmarkedagainst the Space Management Group (SMG) Modelof the Affordable Estate to measure actual spaceagainst predicted space for an institution of theUniversity’s size. The areas are based on the 2005/06Estate Management Statistics returns and results areshown in Table 11 below.Table 11: Comparison of estate size to SMG model predictionsActual(incl. specialistareas)Actual(excl.specialistareas)Predicted(utilisingcurrent spacetools)Predicted(utilising allavailablespace tools)Predicted(averageof top 25%HEI’s)Total Non-Res Estate 65,220 48,101 60,350 54,667 38,595Core Teaching 10,035 10,035 17,187 15,951 9,774Teaching Offices 5,795 5,795 6,112 6,112 4,088Research 10,121 10,121 11,734 11,734 9,541Library 6,544 6,544 8,607 8,607 6,638Other Support 23,079 5,960 10,648 10,648 5,141Whilst the initial results appear to suggest thecurrent estate is larger than expected, this can beaccounted for by the high proportion of specialistfacilities on the campus including the StirlingManagement Centre, shops, Macrobert ArtsCentre, and specialist sports facilities includingthe National Tennis Centre and Robertson TrustSwimming Pool. If these specialist facilities areremoved from the areas, the size of the Universityestate places it close to the top 25% of institutionsin space efficiency terms.Whilst changes in teaching methods over theyears have resulted in an element of bad fit, themajority of the space remains appropriate for theUniversity’s requirements. Indeed the fact that theUniversity’s academic activities are almost entirelyhoused in two large buildings is advantageousand enables efficient adjustment of space arisingfrom the expansion and contraction of individualdepartments. The University does however suffera number of problems in relation to the suitabilityof its buildings. Pathfoot and Cottrell Buildingsare designed on a modular basis which does notreadily adapt to provide the size of rooms that maysuit the University’s future needs, particularly largerrooms and shared spaces. This also applies to officespace where academic offices in the Cottrell andPathfoot Buildings were originally designed toallow small group teaching. This teaching modehas reduced considerably due to the financialpressures which have meant that staff/student4The UK Higher Education Space Management Group (SMG) and Space Management Project (SMP) is supported by the four UK funding bodies for highereducation.32