PResident's RePORt 2009/2010 - University College Cork

Foreword
UCC at a Glance
Academic Developments
Teaching and Learning
Research
College Reports:
Arts, Celtic
Studies and Social
Sciences
Business and Law
Medicine and Health
Science, Engineering and
Food Science
Events
Student Experience
Sports and Recreation
Buildings and Estates
Cork University Press
Finance
Governing Body
IRIS Appendix
74
Flooding in November 2009 affected large areas to the
west of Cork city
Capital Development
UCC’s capital programme, valued at over €400m, continued at
pace during 2009/2010 with significant progress achieved on a
number of key projects.
The largest project of the current programme is the development
of the Western Gateway Building. The building provides worldclass
facilities for teaching and research in information technology
and biomedical sciences. It has also enabled the consolidation of
a number of academic units, including mathematics, computer
science and SFI-funded information technology research
groups, to a single location and provides incubation facilities
for start-up software enterprises. The building houses lecture
theatres with 1,400 seat capacity, state-of-the-art audio visual
capability, high-specification computer facilities and specialist
medical teaching and research laboratories. A pedestrian
bridge and riverside walk link the site to the Brookfield Health
Sciences Complex. Phase one (the lower three floors of the fivefloor
building) was completed in July 2009 and the building was
fully operational for the start of the 2009/2010 academic year.
The upper two floors of the building will be fitted out as funding
becomes available. Work was also completed on the 700m2
PRTLI cycle 4-funded Cell Signalling/Cancer Research project.
When it is completed, the overall investment in the project will
exceed €100m.
A €1m refurbishment of Áras na Laoi has significantly enhanced
its teaching facilities, including a bespoke moot court for the
Faculty of Law. The Department of Microelectronic Engineering
has been relocated to the Electrical Engineering Building. The
Department of Geology was moved to the North Mall to join
the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
(BEES). A new Science and Technology Teaching and Learning
Centre (STTLC) was established in the Kane Building to promote
science and mathematics. The university has also significantly
reduced its reliance on rented property.
The €46m development of the Tyndall Research Institute at the
Lee Maltings complex was completed in July 2009. It is a major
addition to Ireland’s capabilities in semi-conductor devices
and materials research, especially at nanoscale. The sixfloor
building incorporates a clean room suite and associated
photonics, electronics and chemistry laboratories.
The HEA’s Devolved Grant for Summer Works enables the
university to address the ongoing maintenance deficit across
the estate. Unfortunately no funding was received in 2010, so
the programme was limited as a result. A long-term annual
programme is required to address this issue. UCC will continue
to pursue the necessary funding.
Planning approval has been secured for a new pedestrian bridge
at Perrott’s Inch as part of the university’s privately-funded
environmental plan. It is anticipated that construction will start
in 2011.
UCC was severely affected by the flood of 19/20th November
2009 that affected large areas in the west of Cork city. Serious
damage was caused to 29 of UCC’s buildings. One-third of its
estate was under water. One-quarter of its teaching facilities were
destroyed. The facilities of 500 staff were seriously affected and
over 2,000 students were evacuated from their accommodation.
The extensive emergency response and recovery operations
were completed within just 12 months of the flood. The swift
response to this emergency meant that all teaching activities were
back on track within one week. The refurbishment of the student
accommodation complexes was completed by January. The
Glucksman Gallery reopened its doors in January. The Mardyke
Arena also reopened in February 2010. All significant works will
be completed by October 2011. The Office of Buildings and
Estates has worked very closely with UCC insurers Aviva and
loss adjustors OSG to agree the costs of the recovery works.
In parallel, initial works have been implemented to mitigate the
effect of any similar events in the future. Further works may be
required pending the outcome of the Lee CFRAMS process.
The support of Cork University Foundation for the university’s
physical development plan is crucial to our capital programme.
UCC has a relatively small land bank compared to other Irish
universities. This creates significant pressure in accommodating
the future development needs of the university. UCC continues
to work with both the HEA and the local authorities to ensure
the university is well positioned to meet its future development
needs in a sustainable way.