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Campus Estate Management
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Collaboration key to creating campuses of the future
8 Product & Industry News
The latest news and views on campus
22 Reliability at the Edge University of Lincoln modernises Edge Environments with Schneider
26 Specifying for specialist spaces
Criteria when specifying for specialist teaching spaces
30 Leading the way Academy Trusts at forefront of zero carbon action
34 Access control for Younger Hall University of St Andrews with new doors and access
38 Resilience renewed Why you need to improve your cyber resilience
42 Asbestos awareness Education is crucial for asbestos management in schools
Campus of tomorrow Collaboration key to creating university campuses of the future
As higher education, like all sectors, seeks to futureproof its estates, universities must consider how best to rationalise its strategies to deliver on student expectations and sustainability goals. Jon Parry, operations director at multidisciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, discusses the need for relationships built on trust to deliver this rationalisation work safely –particularly where demolition forms
part of the picture.
Universities are unique in their set ups, each being shaped by its location, demographics and research specialisms. But it’s also worth noting that they are also businesses, so having the facilities that attract both students and investment in research projects is critical to their success. Without the right environments, neither will come.
So, whether improving teaching facilities, working towards net zero
goals or adding to their estates, asset rationalisation and building re-use is on the agenda for every university in the country. In many cases, this includes an element of demolition – a tricky undertaking in areas of high footfall like university campuses.
Health and safety
The ideal scenario for demolition is having an empty building, with plenty of low footfall space around it, and a clear understanding of the building’s
make-up. However, this demolition utopia is not always achievable. Sites may be tight, busy and sometimes the process of prepping a building for demolition uncovers new hurdles –for example discovery of asbestos in older buildings.
The obvious challenge is how to approach the work safely for both those involved in carrying out the work, and those using the space around it. This is even more challenging for universities, considering they are not educational facilities closed off in the same way as schools. Indeed, many city campuses can be just as busy with the general public as with students, particularly if they act as thoroughfares between different parts of the city.
A prime example of this is work we are currently undertaking at Bangor University. The demolition of the 1970s-built Alun Roberts Tower
and adjoining building is currently underway, which will create space for new development in the future.
The work here has included clearance of loose items, a soft strip of the building and the main demolition, which is due to complete later in the year. Due to its position in the middle of campus, two demolition methodologies have been deployed to ensure safety – taking a floor-by-floor approach from the top down, until reaching a height suitable for ‘from ground’ demolition. From there, the foundations will be broken, and the site remediated.
The work has required careful management to secure the immediate work site and coordination with a whole host of stakeholders, going beyond just staff and students. For example, engagement with utilities providers has been needed due to a substation attached to the building, making sure that no onward
disruption or damage was caused by our activity.
The wider picture
Building demolition can include the need to decant existing provisions, often as quickly as possible. In the case of our work for Bangor University, this has seen several departments needing to be repositioned elsewhere, including creating labs for specific teams. So, wider planning and coordination is required to find the best place for these services, carry out any upgrades or building works needed, communicate the plans and execute them safely. This is all to ensure that the university does not go without that particular provision for an amount of time, or plans are in place to ensure an appropriate timeline is set – the same way work would not leave a restaurant without a kitchen.
A detailed and strategic
communications plan plays an important role. This ensures that all parties are completely clear on what is being done when, what it means for them, and any other relevant information. This includes providing relevant newsletters and communications to local residents, businesses, students and staff, to ensure they are informed of important measures taken such as temporary road closures for example, to enable better forward planning.
For projects like the Alun Roberts Tower where services have been decanted and relocated, this helps build the all-important trust-based relationships between project delivery teams, the client and wider stakeholders that are critical to success.
Ageing estates
It’s important to remember that universities hold some of the most varied building stock across
their estates, covering residential, traditional and clinical teaching space, science laboratories, retail, leisure and more. And older universities may even have listed buildings under their jurisdiction too.
The education sector is well aware of the problems currently being faced with buildings that have aged beyond their intended design lifespan, with RAAC continuing to dominate headlines in the school space. Even where buildings haven’t ‘aged out’ from a practical or materials point of view, the modern world now has sustainability demands to negotiate, along with different modern standards of teaching requirements that buildings may simply no longer be able to meet.
Unfortunately, funding also often makes it difficult to take the ideal approach of masterplanning the full campus to ensure the best flow and use of space. Projects are often approached in bite sized pieces, so
again trust and relationships are important, ideally bringing back delivery teams for continuity across these projects that eventually add up to a whole.
Built environment specialists like ourselves are able to help universities tackle the scale and variety of challenges ahead. Our own multidisciplinary nature allows us to provide all manner of support, covering everything from feasibility through to design, cost management and project delivery.
Ultimately – as is the case for many sectors – whether demolition is involved or not, robust processes and relationships built on trust will be the answer to delivering the campuses of the future, meeting student and staff expectations wrapped up with achieving net zero.
For more information on Pick Everard please visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating Solutions for education facilities
Pick Everard designing £100 million schools projects in Bedford
SHOWCASING its commitment to educational development, multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has revealed it will be helping deliver more than 2,500 school spaces across the Bedford region over the next two years.
Having worked with Bedford Borough Council for the past decade, Pick Everard is on track to assist the needs of an ever-growing and diverse population. The programme has a projected construction cost of more than £100 million, and includes one of the largest SEN schools in the country, the Rivertree Free School, which is set to complete in August.
Delivering 200 SEN spaces, the project runs concurrently with the construction of Willow Grove Primary School in Wixams, providing 840 new primary spaces when released. An extension to Wixams Academy secondary school will also be welcomed to the community in September, delivering 900 additional spaces.
Sean Conneely, director at Pick Everard, said: "We’re immensely proud of the work undertaken with Bedford Borough Council to improve school facilities and increase the number of pupil places in the region. The programme’s success has been greatly influenced by a collaborative approach with the entire delivery team, combined with our shared dedication to delivering community value."
Two further projects are also on track for completion
in 2025. These include Bedford Academy creating 300 additional places and Wootton Lower School, which is undergoing conversion into a primary school; with an extra form of entry creating 300 additional places.
Moving into 2026, there will be further works on Wootton Upper School turning it into a secondary school with an additional 450 pupil places. Further school extensions are in the feasibility phase.
Pick Everard’s work with Bedford Borough Council has included a package of services, consisting of project management, cost management, NEC supervisor and health and safety services. The work undertaken has been procured through the SCAPE Consultancy Framework, operating under the Perfect Circle banner.
Along with contractor Willmott Dixon, Bedford Borough Council and Pick Everard will take part in the Build UK Open Doors event in March, in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board and the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The programme of works undertaken by the trio has been imbued with social value, with pupils helping design a ‘Shedspace for your Headspace’ wellbeing area at Grange Academy in Kempston last September.
Sustainability has also been key, aligning with the council's declaration of a climate emergency, with all new school buildings now being designed as net zero carbon in operation.
Style divides Scottish school hall with Multiroll
Moveable wall expert Style was recently called upon to divide the sports hall at King’s Road Primary School, Dunfermline. Providing an affordable yet highly effectively solution, Style recommended their Multiroll curtain partitioning system.
Taking up zero floor space, the Multiroll is installed into the ceiling cavity, either mounted in the beam area of the roof or invisibly fitted between a suspended ceiling. Operated at the press of a button, the fabriclined divide unfurls from above, lowering to create a safe separation for large, open spaces such as gyms and sports halls.
If required, a Multiroll can be fitted with a soundabsorbing, non-woven fabric to provide enhanced noise insulation, whilst user welfare is assured with each system coming German TÜV-tested safety as standard. Available in a multitude of colours, the Multiroll enhances any interior décor.
“King’s Road school originally had a sliding moveable wall in the sports hall,” explains Angela McGowan,
sales director at Style Scotland, “but it was quite an old system and it had become difficult to move the panels in and out of the parking bay.
Because of the height and weight of the panels, and the existing structural support, it was just not feasible to install a modern sliding wall system, but the Multiroll offered the perfect solution, requiring only support along the linear length, which was available.
Maximising use of the space, the new Multiroll allows staff at the King’s Road school to quickly create two areas where different classes can gather to enjoy separate activities.”
Style is the UK’s leading supplier of moveable wall systems, offering technologically advanced solutions for almost any location, including horizontal sliding and folding partitions, the vertical-rising Skyfold, as well as the Multiroll.
For further information visit www.style-partitions.co.uk
Luceco illuminates new university of Chester student accommodation, Sumner house
The University of Chester have installed Luceco’s flagship backlit LED solutions in their brand-new student accommodation, Sumner House. The university originated as the first purpose-built teacher training college in the UK and continues to expand with extensive student demand and sites across Chester, Warrington, Shrewsbury and Birkenhead. The 2023 refurbishment of the former hotel in Chester city centre has brought high quality, modern design to the University’s brand new full-board and self-catered student accommodation.
Luceco were delighted to design and supply Contour Suspended lighting in varied sizes in mulitcolour and black, creating a stylish and striking lighting solution for the communal seating area at Sumner House. Creatively installed in intervals between sculptural wooden slats, with further colourful lights artistically suspended to create a focal point, Sumner House shows the versatility of Luceco LED lighting solutions and the myriad of creative possibilities for installation.
Contour Suspended lighting is a very versatile option, emitting continuous gentle, balanced, and low-glare lighting, making it ideal for both commercial and domestic settings, and perfect for communal areas. Providing downward illumination with up to 107 Llm/ cW, Contour Suspended lighting is accompanied with full range of connectors to match any space. Whilst Contour Suspended lighting is readily available in black and white finishes, Luceco work with clients to supply colourful sprayed options to best suit your requirements.
This lighting solution was paired with LuxPanel Extra 600x600 in other areas, soft glowing panels that gently illuminate the space whilst offering an ideal level of light for working. Offering increased performance in terms of lumen per watt and balanced light distribution, the backlit LED module boasts high efficiency optical design, offering efficacy up to 145 Llm/cW. With TPa rated diffusers, long life drivers and IP65 protected options, LuxPanel extra is a natural choice for public spaces.
Luceco Group have a long-standing relationship with Chester University, supplying luminaires to the University of Chester Engineering Building and tailoring lighting solutions for major buildings on their Parkgate Road Campus.
Andy Whalley from Luceco Plc said ‘We were delighted to design and supply the lighting solutions for Sumner House, optimizing efficiency while creatively enhancing aesthetics, thus further strengthening our long-standing relationship with the University of Chester. Developing strong working partnerships is integral to our strategic objectives of Growth, Innovation, and Sustainability.’
Nick Dudley from the University of Chester said ‘We are thoroughly impressed with the project outcome and the exceptional quality of Luceco products. Luceco worked closely with us to tailor lighting solutions that create the perfect environment for our students. Many millions of pounds are continually invested in the accommodation and resources to enhance the student experience and there is a strong focus on making students feel supported and at home.’
McAvoy delivers state-of-the-art extension at Ash Manor School
A new modular extension at a Surrey school will provide much needed additional space in anticipation of a local population surge due to planned residential development in the area.
The modular classroom block at Ash Manor School in was manufactured and installed by leading offsite specialists, McAvoy who have significant experience in delivering space solutions to the education sector.
McAvoy worked with Surrey County Council and Ash Manor School to design and deliver a cutting-edge modular solution to address the pressing need for additional classroom accommodation in anticipation of a population surge following plans to build a new housing development nearby.
The scheme, commissioned by Surrey County Council included the creation of a single storey school building which will house the school’s Arts, Design & Technology block. Externally, the scope of works included extensive landscaping, ground preparation, and the installation of a cutting-edge M&E service infrastructure.
The scheme was completed within 24 weeks from the delivery of the first module to handover. The building utilises the very latest in precision manufacturing techniques and further reinforces McAvoy’s credentials for high quality, fast delivery, and sustainability in the Education sector.
The project was registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and achieved full marks in the
site audit. McAvoy proved their dedication to supporting the local community by teaming up with The Parachute Regiment Association to set up a mast at Ash Manor School Combined Cadet Force. This local community group had previously faced significant obstacles in finding companies that could successfully install the mast, which has been a crucial addition to the facility.
Thomas Boyle, Contracts Manager at McAvoy said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the extension at Ash Manor school which will provide the area with vital additional school places.”
“Our team has vast experience in delivering high quality accommodation in the education sector, and has worked with Surrey County Council on many education projects over the last 10 years. The school can now benefit from a sustainable, high-quality, fit-for-purpose building that has been designed with the needs of its students at its core.”
Cllr Natalie Bramhall, Surrey County Council Cabinet member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure said: “We are pleased that work with McAvoy to expand Ash Manor school is now complete, offering more places for secondary education to meet demand in the area. The new and sustainable building at the school will help to ensure children and young people in Surrey have access to a high-quality education that leads them successfully onto the next stage in their lives.”
Stosilent direct system brings Oxford college acoustics up to date
One of the leading Oxford University Colleges has seen its acoustic performance significantly upgraded thanks to the use of the StoSilent Direct acoustic ceiling system. It has been installed at Somerville College as part of a major project to upgrade both the acoustics and the lighting of the Grade II listed dining hall.
“This was a complex project where the aim was to create a much-improved acoustic environment in the hall,” explains Sto’s acoustics project manager, James Gosling. “The hall is used both for dining and for formal events, so outstanding acoustic performance was a key requirement. The aim was to increase the amount of acoustic attenuation material within the moulded panels of the existing vaulted ceiling, but the chosen acoustic system also had to be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the new lighting system which was being installed. The project demanded close liaison between ourselves, the architect and the applicator in order to design and install the most effective and appropriate solution possible.”
“We knew that Sto had worked on similar, historically-sensitive projects in the past, and that experience was a key requirement for us,” explains Thomas Cotton of Associated Architects. “Refurbishing buildings of this age comes with particular challenges, so it was important that we worked with a proven acoustic ceiling supplier and installer, who understood our requirement for high performance absorption with minimal visual impact.”
The chosen system also had to offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of design and installation. Associated Architects were looking for a system that could be applied directly onto the existing structure, but which would have minimal physical and visual impact. This project involved a very significant heritage building and the acoustic boards had to integrate as closely as
possible with the existing ceiling beams and surfaces.
“The Sto system is extremely adaptable and so it was able to satisfy all these requirements,” comments Harry Austin of Alpine Finishing who installed the acoustic products. “Working together with Sto and Associated Architects was also very beneficial, as we were able to pool our expertise and create a really successful solution.”
The StoSilent Direct system offers a particularly economical method of minimising reverberation times and reducing noise levels, as it can be applied directly to walls and ceilings without the need for a sub-construction – a feature which also makes it quick and easy to install. The acoustically porous nature of the materials and finish textures mean that the system is highly sound absorbent and in addition, has a reaction to fire classification of A2-s1, d0 in accordance with EN 13501-1.
The Sto system was completed with a StoSilent Top Finish to blend with the existing refurbished ceiling features. This organic, porous finishing coat is trowelapplied, and has an ultra-fine grain size which allows the creation of smooth surfaces across ceiling areas. It is environmentally friendly and is available in a large range of colours, making it compatible with a wide range of architectural and design styles.
The wood-panelled Somerville College hall features raised stage areas at either end, and these required a slightly different treatment. Bespoke acoustic modules constructed from Sto’s StoSilent Distance system were created and then installed above the raised platform areas to add extra acoustic attenuation.
Somerville College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1879, and former students include prime ministers and pioneers in the fields of literature, science and public service.
Multi-million-pound refurbishment of Nottingham Trent University postgraduate centre completes
WORK on a state-of-the-art multi-million-pound postgraduate centre at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has completed, with its grand opening commemorated via a special launch event.
The new building will predominantly be used by students from Nottingham Business School (NBS) and features collaborative classrooms and social areas. A dedicated outdoor environment is also being created, with a focus on supporting local wildlife through insect towers and planted areas. The facility was delivered by multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, providing architecture, interior design and landscaping services to an SKA Silver Standard.
Additionally, the retrofit of the existing Belgrave Centre was delivered entirely via organisations based in the immediate East Midlands region, as well as NTU Construction Services, to support local investment and capabilities. Devika Parmar, director at Pick Everard, said: “This has been a collaborative project designed to significantly boost Nottingham Business School’s already considerable offering. The spaces will be inhabited by postgraduate students, some of whom already work part-time in corporate offices. This directed the changes to likewise have an office feel, so that the students can further embed themselves comfortably into those kinds of environments.
“To ensure we were getting the elements correct, we held regular stakeholder meetings between project
teams, stakeholder groups, school deans, and student leads, helping to determine the most beneficial and productive layouts to incorporate into the final build.
“The design of this space is flexible and adaptable so that the school can continue to teach the next generation of our workforce as effectively as possible. Alongside the indoor areas, students will also be able enjoy the outdoor space in the summer, with settings that help to promote wellbeing through a clear steer on nature, biodiversity and sustainability. We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with NTU and deliver a facility fit for the future.”
Professor Baback Yazdani, executive dean of NBS, said: “The Postgraduate Centre will be the home of NBS’ postgraduate and executive education for professionals and postgraduate students from across the world. It has been designed to bring state-of-the-art educational technology together with world class teaching and community space for all our postgraduate and exec ed students and staff, catering for our growing international student population and corporate clients at the heart of our campus and the city of Nottingham.”
The completion of the new centre was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony, undertaken by NTU ViceChancellor, professor Edward Peck.
For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit www.pickeverard.co.uk
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Goupil EV
range a safe bet for UK schools as the sector works towards net zero goals
As the UK government continues to issue rallying cries across all sectors to come together to fight climate change, a number of schools throughout the UK are helping to do their bit through switching their traditional site vehicles to a popular zero-emission light utility vehicle range.
The Goupil utility vehicle range, which is exclusively supplied by Bradshaw Electric Vehicles in the UK, has swiftly become a hit with independent schools, in particular with Bedford School, Peterborough School and St. Peter’s School, York which have all acquired Goupil vehicles in recent years.
With its capabilities being both varied and diverse, the Goupil vehicles have been put to use in a number of different ways by their new handlers at Peterborough, Bedford and St. Peters School.
St, Peter’s York, which prides itself on being the third oldest school in the UK, opted for a specially designed G4 Box Van to help transport food and necessities within the school grounds as well as within its local community.
Peterborough School’s G2 pick-up, which has affectionally been named as ‘Sheldon’ by the pupils, was to transport goods and equipment between the school’s 15 buildings as well as to collect waste across its 10-acre site.
As for Bedford School, their Goupil G4 is similarly being put to task to help the site management team with a host of tasks from waste management to transporting goods across their extensive grounds.
Entirely customisable and available in two different models – the G2 and G4– the Goupil range is ideally suited to working across large-scale estates, even those
that are connected by a public highway, as a result of their low maintenance, generous payload and compact size.
The purchase of the Goupil vehicles comes at a time where British schools are actively accelerating their sustainability plans as the nation etches ever closer to the government’s vision for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy by 2050.
With battling climate change on the lips of all within the sector, Ramsy Labassi, Marketing Manager at Bradshaw Electric Vehicles – the UK’s exclusive supplier of the Goupil vehicle range – expects more schools in the coming years to follow suit and make the switch to the Goupil range as a result of their versatile usage and zero-emission output.
Ramsy commented: “It has been great to see our Goupil vehicles being widely adopted by some of the UK’s most revered schools and become increasingly popular as a whole across the entire sector.
“Climate change has swiftly risen to the top of the global agenda in recent years, and as such organisations are actively looking at alternative ways to ensure that their operations become more sustainable and environmentally friendly – but of course without compromising on performance, uptime, or output.
“This is where we find the Goupil vehicles tick a number of boxes for our customers in the independent school space. They are not only ideally suited to a wide range of uses, whether that be waste management or for transporting goods or food, but they also offer an excellent alternative to their petrol or diesel counterparts by providing the same efficiencies but with the carbon-free advantage.”
4 university colleges in Denmark join forces to enhance on-site and remote education for radiographers with Sectra Education Portal
International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) will provide its platform for medical education, Sectra Education Portal, to four university colleges in Denmark. With the solution, they aim to elevate the educational experiences for their radiographer students, ultimately better preparing them for future professional environments. Additionally, the solution will facilitate the sharing of educational materials between the university colleges.
The four university colleges adopting Sectra’s platform for medical education are University College Nordjylland (UNC), University College (UCL), Københavns Professionshøjskole (KP) and Professionshøjskolen Absalon. They are located in different parts of Denmark, spreading from the capital Copenhagen to the southern part of the country, all having multiple campuses.
“We have previously used what you might call a lite version of the Sectra PACS with the purpose of making clinical images a part of our training program. By transferring to the education portal, we look forward to greatly enhancing the learning experience for our radiographer students. For the faculty, this will facilitate the development of tailored learning materials, lessons, and assessments, while enabling the sharing of material and lessons among the four universities and their campuses,” says Katrine Borg-Hansen, Head of Education, UCL.
The contract for the Sectra Education Portal was signed during the fourth quarter of Sectra's 2023/2024 fiscal year and will provide the university colleges with a realistic Sectra PACS-environment with advanced visualization tools and a multidisciplinary library of real anatomical and clinical cases. This will allow users to study cases that mimic real-life experiences in the
diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring of a wide range of medical conditions. In addition, the cloud-based portal allows users on-demand access to the learning content from their own devices, facilitating self-directed learning. It is also easily scalable, if needed, and can be used by many users in different faculties, which makes it possible for universities to share resources between sites.
“A significant challenge facing the healthcare system today is the shortfall of radiographers available to conduct imaging exams, leading to substantial delays in diagnosis and patient care. Across many countries, attracting students to enroll in radiographer programs at universities is extremely difficult, and of the students who actually start, too many drop out before graduation. Therefore, making the education for radiographers more attractive is of huge importance. I am honored to receive the confidence and support of these four esteemed university colleges,” says Johan Carlegrim, President of Sectra’s business unit Medical Education.
He continues, “This marks a significant step forward in enhancing educational standards and ultimately, patient care in Denmark.”
The Sectra Education Portal is a subscriptionbased Software-as-a-Service solution that provides visualization tools and content at the university, at home or at the hospital. The portal is used by over 60 countries worldwide and includes a large number of anonymized medical cases and images that have been collected in collaboration with Sectra’s customers. It comprises anatomy, histopathology, radiology, traumatology, orthopedics, oncology, surgery and other specialties. It also allows the import of own material, which facilitates tailor-made lessons.
Stepnell completes boat house for leading girls' school
Environment, leisure and joinery specialists at complete construction partner, Stepnell, have completed the build of Maddy Moorings boathouse for Headington School in Oxfordshire. The new facilities will enhance the independent girl's day and boarding school's ability to develop rowing talent - home to one of the UK’s top school boat clubs.
Stepnell has built the new state-of-the-art two-storey boathouse on the river Thames, in Long Wittenham, south of Abingdon. Designed by project architects Spratley & Partners, the boathouse can accommodate storage for up to 50 rowing boats.
Ian Batchelor, contracts manager at Stepnell, said: “Maddy Moorings boathouse has been an intricate project to provide modern and sustainable rowing facilities. The build is equally world-class in specification, but also built with methods and materials of construction that were not disruptive to the local biodiversity during the build, nor will be in the long-term to the ecosystem along the river.
“With the school being one of the UK’s top educational institutions for rowing, we are proud to have used our leisure expertise to deliver sporting infrastructure that will contribute significant lasting value to the schools’ future successes.”
The location and configuration of the boathouse were carefully designed to minimise impact on the site. Inside the building there is a large boat storage area, a
multi-use training room and welfare facilities.
It will provide a first-class training facility for the school’s high achieving rowing team for years to come.
The low-maintenance, energy-efficient boathouse, elevated on 60 steel columns includes an indoor communal area, with an accompanying balcony overlooking the river for spectating. Boats can be accessed and carried via three bespoke double doors opening up to a large staircase, all designed and built by Stepnell’s dedicated joinery team.
Completing the boathouse externally is a comprehensive package, including a stunning timber façade, river pontoons which rise and fall and a wet dock area. The wildflower roof proudly boasts biological variability. Enhanced road access routes, additional parking spaces and new surface water drainage have also been installed to improve the accessibility and usability of the site.
Bringing in expertise from ecologists at the Environment Agency, Stepnell ensured that any key environmental concerns would be identified and addressed before building along the Thames. This included undertaking flood risk management, identifying the presence of water voles and ensuring the protection of trees, bats, and nesting birds.
To find out more please visit www.stepnell.co.uk.
Esade to open new university campus in Madrid in early 2025, advised by Savills
Esade, advised by Savills, has agreed a new lease at 3 Calle Valle de la Fuenfría in Mirasierra, Madrid from Saint Croix Holding Immobilier. The architecture team, part of occupier solutions, has also been appointed to design the 4,800 sq m campus which will be a hub for Esade Executive Education in Madrid.
For a second consecutive year, Esade was ranked as the fourth best business school in the world for executive education by the Financial Times. The new campus will focus on strengthening Esade's relevance with a world-class faculty reflecting Esade's strategic commitment to the community of Madrid.
Located in the Mirasierra neighbourhood, the new campus will reinforce the attractiveness of this area as a training and research hub, with great capacity to attract national and international talent.
Xavier Mendoza, Director General, Esade, comments: "With this new campus, we are responding to the growing demand for our Executive Education programmes and we will use the campus as a meeting point for companies, their executives and our entire community. Esade is a leading forum for public
debate, generating ideas and proposals, aimed at promoting economic and social development. The new headquarters will further our purpose of inspiring and accompanying companies and organisations in their transformation processes.”
The architecture team at Savills Spain has been appointed to lead the architecture and design project which will include 13 classrooms, an auditorium as well as different leisure and networking areas. It will also be equipped with the latest technological advances, including a space dedicated to immersive experiences and Virtual Reality and a Mediaroom along with other multi-purpose areas geared towards wellbeing.
Leyre Octavio de Toledo, executive director, architecture, occupier solutions, Savills Spain, says: "The education sector is undergoing a major transformation and it is necessary to design educational spaces that are focused on the generation of value, connection and opportunity, which responds to the challenges involved in the application of new methodologies in the educational cycle.”
Reliability at the Edge
University of Lincoln modernises Edge Environments with Schneider Electric and RMD
Established 25 years ago, the University of Lincoln is highly dependent on SaaS applications for operational efficiency and to deliver a great student learning experience.
Schneider Electric’s nextgeneration APC™ Smart-UPS SRT UPS ensure campus-wide resilient IT services and connectivity.
Its Network team is supported by leading physical infrastructure solutions including Schneider Electric
APC Smart-UPS, EcoStruxure™ IT and Data Centre Expert software, with installation, upgrade and maintenance services delivered by its Elite Data Centre Partner, RMD UK.
Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has delivered an edge data centre modernisation project for the University of Lincoln - one of the world’s top 150 universities according to the Times Higher
Education’s (THE) Young University Rankings 2023 - in collaboration with its Elite Data Centre Partners at RMD UK, a specialist service provider for data centres and industrial systems with more than 25 years of experience in IT power and cooling.
Today the university operates a centralised data centre, where users of the campus, including the admin team, students, and educators, as well as its research and commercial partners, are dependent upon SaaS
applications for the majority of tasks. This makes uptime and reliable access to cloud services a critical requirement for all users of the network throughout its twenty-five buildings.
“We open a new building nearly every year,” said Darran Coy, Senior Infrastructure Analyst, ICT Services, University of Lincoln, “and each one needs its own comms room populated with IT racks including servers and networking equipment, together with all the necessary supporting infrastructure including cooling, structured cabling, power distribution (PDUs) and power protection. It is the epitome of edge computing.”
Meeting the Challenge of Reliability at the Edge
Although the utility supply in Lincoln is generally reliable, the university's city-centre campus buildings are not equipped with any standby power generating capabilities. Consequently, ICT Services depend heavily on APC™ uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to build resilience into the network. Currently, there are 110 Schneider Electric APC Smart-UPS SRT units deployed across the university’s distributed edge facilities, which provide power protection and continuity in the event of disruptions or disturbances to the mains power supply.
Darran Coy and the team at the University of Lincoln began their relationship with RMD UK over a decade ago, when the Schneider Electric Elite Partner won a tender to replace some of its legacy APC
Smart-UPS. Soon after, the university took the step to implement a digital services programme to ensure regular inspection and maintenance of the UPS systems, contracting RMD UK to provide the service.
Other important measures have
been implemented as a result of the relationship, including the installation of APC NetBotz environmental monitoring devices, as well as Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT Expert and Data Centre Expert Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software.
The Schneider Electric software provides the University of Lincoln with full visibility of its distributed IT equipment across the campus, enabling ICT Services to centrally manage and monitor all elements of its data centre physical infrastructure - from the temperature within the edge server rooms to the health and condition of the UPSs, and their associated battery runtime. This not only enables the IT team to prioritise ongoing remedial tasks and respond more quickly to unforeseen events and outages, but has also allowed cooling in the data centres and edge facilities to be optimised for greater operational efficiency and lower
power consumption.
Further demonstrating how RMD’s expertise has benefitted the university, the partner recommended fitting bypass panels as an aid to UPS maintenance and replacement activities, enabling servicing to be carried out without compromising the IT load. Bypass panels are now being retrofitted to existing UPS deployments and have been made standard in the electrical design for all infrastructure supporting the universities new edge server rooms.
Moving towards net zero
For the University of Lincoln, immediate results from its work with RMD and Schneider Electric include improvements to power availability as well as the serviceability of its infrastructure.
By increasing temperature setpoints, the university is also saving energy as a further step towards reaching net zero carbon operations for its infrastructure and IT services.
“The modernisation strategy chosen by the University of Lincoln demonstrates why improving the reliability of the IT network goes hand-in-hand with reducing its environmental impact,” said Mark Yeeles, Vice President, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric, UK and Ireland. “The university now has a more operationally and energy efficient infrastructure system, which importantly, helps towards its target of becoming net zero, and provides a resilient learning environment for future generations of students to further their education.”
“For many years now RMD has
partnered with the University of Lincoln to support its IT and power requirements and underpin its reputation as one of the world’s leading universities,” said Scot Docherty, Business Development Consultant, RMD Power & Cooling.
“Through the use of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure software, its APC power protection solutions and its digital services programme, we’re able to help the university ensure maximum efficiency and reliability across its critical systems and take another step towards its environmental goals.”
To learn more about Schneider Electric’s work with the University of Lincoln, visit the website
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Specifying for specialist spaces
With a diverse range of subjects taught in secondary schools, Dave Ford, Specification Manager at Altro, considers the key criteria when specifying flooring for specialist teaching spaces.
Standard secondary school classroom floors have to deal with a lot feet and furniture. Around 30 pairs of feet regularly come, go, or rest on the floor; add to that 30 bags, 30 chairs and many table legs and it’s clear that the floor needs
to be tough. But in any secondary school there are many other specialist spaces with additional criteria to consider when looking at specifying floors or walls.
Art/CDT rooms
No surprises here. Art room floors
contend with a lot of contaminants, such as chalk dust and muddy water from clay work. Flooring needs to be easy to sweep up and clean up, without pupils slipping up. A CDT room floor presents different slip hazards, such as sawdust and on top of this, it needs to house heavy
equipment and will see regular wheeled traffic.
Look to specialist safety floors here, such as Altro Classic 25, with a high level of slip resistance to reduce the slip risk to one in a million, even with that muddy water and Altro Easyclean Technology, making it easier to clean up. At 2.5mm it’s tough enough to cope with art props or heavy equipment being dragged around the room, with the added benefit of comfort underfoot.
CDT room walls will regularly be knocked, scuffed and bumped. It’s a working space and should look like one but regular painted walls will end up with chunks missing, paint flaking off, scratches, scuffs and more. A freshly painted wall will soon look as though it was decorated years ago. This is an area perfect for wall protection such as Altro Fortis Titantium, which is dense impervious and resistant to bumps.
Computer labs/server rooms
These rooms have a simple function: protect the equipment that’s kept there, particularly if it’s staticsensitive. It’s also not somewhere you want to decorate regularly, so it needs to have a floor that goes the distance and is easy to maintain. Look to specialist options such as Altro Walkway 20 SD, a staticdissipative floor, reducing static build-up that has the potential to damage valuable equipment – both in terms of cost and how vital it is in the day to day running of the school. There’s also the added reassurance of its fire standards’ compliance in an area that has a higher fire risk than other spaces. Its 10-year guarantee ensures no disruption to the computer systems caused by repairs to, or replacement of, the floor before this time.
Libraries/study rooms
For individual learning, small group discussions or browsing the shelves, libraries and study rooms need impact sound reduction from feet within the room. No longer dusty, off-putting spaces, these rooms should feel warm, welcoming and comfortable. With foot traffic mainly in front of the shelves and around chairs and desks, the floor needs to be able to withstand busy use. Look for flooring such as Altro
Orchestra which offers comfort underfoot and 15dB sound reduction, as well as resistance to residual indentation ensures the floor’s thickness is only a benefit, with the weight of heavy shelves and other furniture needed in these rooms causing no problem.
Science labs
Science labs experience dropped experiments, amongst other mishaps, with the floor taking the brunt. Add to these trollies of scientific equipment coming in and out of the lab, plus students rocking back and forth on stools, and you’ve got the need for a tough safety floor. Look to heavy duty options such as Altro Reliance, which offers the ideal combination of good chemical resistance, cleanability, stain resistance and durability that a lab needs to look good for the
long haul. And that stool rocking? Even if the rubber feet are rocked loose, 2.5mm thick Altro Reliance can withstand the pressure from the metal studs underneath that could pierce a thinner floor. With a high level of slip resistance, staff and students are also safe from slips caused by water accidental spills.
Music rooms
The sound you want to hear inside a music room is the music being played. The sound you don’t want to hear outside the music room, is the music being played. It’s a balancing act. An acoustic floor will reduce impact sound – footsteps within and below the rooms, chairs and other furniture being pulled across the floor. A good option here is Altro Serenade, an acoustic floor, reducing impact sound by 19dB. At
3.9mm thick it also provides welcome comfort underfoot to music teachers, who stand for much of the teaching day.
And for music rooms – and all creative spaces – consider Altro Whiterock Digiclad, which allows you to choose from patterns or photographic images, either from our pre-designed collection, or your own design, using a straight-forward ordering process. Durable and with scratch-resistant properties, the chosen design will retain its looks.
Adhesive-free options
Adhesive-free floors have been a breakthrough product in the last decade, and when Altro adhesive-free floors can save you up to 50% on time, up to 50% CO2 and up to 35% in cost, you can see why their popularity has grown. With 14dB impact sound reduction, they can help with acoustics in noisy classrooms and during the lunchtime rush. No odours from adhesive and quick overlay of existing tiles, even with asbestos, means less disruption and less
downtime when you need it most. In the last year alone, Altro has added two new adhesive-free ranges, including Altro Stronghold adhesivefree for commercials kitchens and the highest slip-risk areas plus Altro Illustra, a class-leading safety floor with stunning natural aesthetic designs.
Visit www.altro.com for a wide range of tools and resources for specifying in education.
Academy Trusts at forefront of zero carbon action for UK schools Leading the way
Academy Trusts up and down the country are proving to be a formative part of the UK education sector’s response to climate change, says Let’s Go Zero, the nationwide school campaign which supports schools to be zero carbon by 2030.
Schools from 389 Multi-Academy Trusts are now signed up to Let’s Go Zero with the largest trust in England signing up nearly 100 schools in one go.
Let’s Go Zero are encouraging academies to join the campaign this academic year – following on from 95 that joined so far this year. More than 2,300 schools are signed up to the campaign in the UK.
Alex Green, Head of Let’s Go Zero, says academies have the opportunity to be highly impactful in terms of climate action - sharing learning between the trust schools quickly and efficiently, and trialling initiatives in one or two schools before rolling out to the rest of the Trust: “MultiAcademy Trusts can take advantage of the support of the resources and experience of each other very effectively and use that learning to replicate low carbon initiatives across all their schools.
“They also have a huge demonstration effect – to students, teachers and the wider community – and can have a really positive impact on the local economy in terms of building contracts for installing
renewable energy, retrofitting the schools to be more energy efficient, and sourcing as much of the schools’ equipment, food and resources locally as possible.”
Academies joining Let’s Go Zero range from as small as five schools in a trust, such as The Learning Life Partnership, to the largest trust in England- United Learning Trust - that currently encompasses 94 schools and includes schools across the country from Carlisle to the South Coast.
Leading the way in local climate response In 2019 the United Learning Trust created an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2030 and made
a commitment to have a positive impact on their local communities, on the national education system and on the wider world. United Learning have ensured their carbon neutral ambition is a high priority agenda for their Headteachers by presenting their research, data and plans, as well as sharing good practice from across the schools and beyond, at their termly Headteacher face-to-face meetings.
Each school has a ‘Carbon Neutral Champion’ who is responsible for the day-to-day responsibility at school level, yet they also have a trust-wide team with representatives from each department including all Carbon Neutral Champions, who monitor progress to achieving goals and report regularly to the Executive Board.
The United Learning Trust has taken steps to reduce its carbon emissions and engage the whole student and staff body. Actions include switching to a 100 per cent renewable electricity provider for all schools in the trust, running an energy saving week every January, and adapting their primary school curriculum to include a sustainability focus. They will be doing the same for their secondary school curriculum
this year a as well as introducing one meat free day a week into every school and create a ‘green directory’ or ‘preferred supplies’ list for staff to use with the ambition to introduce a sustainability clause into all new procurement contracts from 2025.
Bellevue Academy Trust, which manages 10 schools in London and Berkshire, has partnered with eEnergy to reduce their carbon footprint and work towards their net zero goal by 2030. They have switched to a 100 per cent renewable electricity tariff and with support from eEnergy, five of the Trust’s schools have now replaced their old, inefficient lights with new LED lighting and nine out of the ten schools in the Trust, now also have solar panels installed saving the Trust £1.5 milllion a year.
Richard Crompton, Director of Operations at Bellevue said: “With some of the things we’ve done –we’ve had to invest to save. There is a danger out there that trusts don’t optimise the buying power of the educational institutions. We do need more collaboration between trusts.”
The largest academy trust for primary schools, REAch2, which support 60 primary schools across England, have just started
their journey on climate action and sustainability. They have created a six-point strategy which encompasses sustainability throughout the Trust - this includes looking into their policies, process and procurement, adding environmental impact into everything they do and buy and embedding sustainability into the culture of all their schools. They are also looking at reducing emissions from their school estate and improving their school grounds to support the curriculum as well as for improving biodiversity.
Tim Culpin, REAch2 Sustainability Lead, said about their climate action journey: “I took up this post [less than a year ago] and have been overwhelmed by the support that I’ve received from people outside the Trust from different organisations and businesses who have a great deal of expertise and want to do the right thing. I feel really optimistic.”
Culpin’s aim is to bring every school in the Trust along on this journey in a way that works for everyone - no matter if the school is in located in urban or rural settings. This approach needs to become an integral part of each school's culture, not just as an Eco Club add-on for
Photo: Whitehall Park School in Islington, London, managed by Bellevue Place Education Trust, is one of the nine out of 10 schools in the Trust which is working towards the Let’s Go Zero goal of being zero carbon by 2030. Having solar energy saves the Trust £1.5m annually.
a select few, he insists. Every child must leave school with a clear awareness of the steps they can take to contribute positively to both people and the planet.
CEO of REAch2, Cathie Paine, echoes this sentiment, “In many of our schools, I've seen inspiring projects, awards and achievements, and genuine progress towards sustainability at every level. But it goes beyond that. To truly prioritise sustainability across our Trust, we need to ensure that what is achieved by schools already on this journey is attainable for all. Our commitment not only empowers our children but supports our staff in schools too as we're providing teachers with needed knowledge and skills through valuable CPD opportunities.”
Let’s Go Zero provides schools with support from the 11 Let’s Go
Zero coalition members, which includes a range of NGOs working on environmental guidance for schools, including ready-made lesson plans and project ideas, to webinars and case studies, and the support is only growing. Competitions for schools to win funding for sustainability focused projects, run with IKEA and OVO Foundation, also offer schools the chance to involve their students in creative projects and win the funds to implement them.
This new school year also sees a massive upscaling in the support Let’s Go Zero is offering to all schools, colleges and nurseries across England. Let’s Go Zero will start providing climate action advisors in the East and West Midlands, with more to come in 2024. The advisors will provide unbiased guidance to school
leaders to support climate action, taking schools through from quick wins to more intensive actions –helping schools link to the latest Department for Education guidance and reporting requirements, to supporting with resources and advice on technologies, finance and grants available to them. A long-term collaboration with key players in public and private finance will also start, to develop innovative finance solutions for increased retrofit funding opportunities, and a Zero Carbon Fund, supporting and scaling existing programmes run by organisations working with schools to create even more impact and legacy.
For more information and to join Let’s Go Zero visit their website.
Photo: St. Margaret's Primary Academy in Lowestoft is part of the REAch2 Academy Trust. The school’s living wall of minibeasts is just one of many ways they foster biodiversity within the school environment.
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Access control for Younger Hall
Abloy UK, Aspex and Johan Doors provide University of St Andrews with doors and access control for Younger Hall refurbishment
Abloy UK, Aspex and Johan Doors have worked in collaboration to provide the University of St Andrews with a compliant access control solution for the refurbishment of Younger Hall.
Younger Hall is the main venue for graduation ceremonies at the University, located in the centre of St Andrews. It is named after James and Annie Younger, local philanthropists and benefactors of the University.
It was designed by English architect Paul Waterhouse, built in the 1920s, and opened in 1929 by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Its design combines aspects of Neo-Classical and Art Deco styles, and the hall was recently renovated as part of a £12 million project.
In recent years, the University of St Andrews had created a mandatory technical specification for access control and electric locking. It was quickly identified early on that electric magnetic locks and electric
strikes were not secure methods of locking, and the Abloy EL560 was introduced to the University, and has been installed ever since.
The Abloy EL560 lock is first choice when it comes to single leaf doors, providing reliability, robustness, and security. However, there are many double leaf entrance doors to the University building. As most of these doors are on an escape route, it was clear that the escape facilities needed to be considered, so panic bars were also introduced.
Refurbishing Younger Hall
The project had several requirements, including matching the existing traditional doors with both non-fire and fire rated doors, along with compliant access control ironmongery.
The specification was challenging, as what might work from an ironmongery perspective and user functionality may not offer the best lifespan of the doors. Due to the historic nature and design of the building, the University was not able to use the standard Abloy EL560 locks normally specified on campus for the external doors.
The quality and design of the internal doors was to a very high standard, creating a challenge to install the cabling required for electric locks. There was also the added pressure that the heritage aesthetic needed to be retained, and there was no standard size of any internal or external door.
The external double leaf doors presented the most difficult part of the project, as they were extremely narrow, and the alternative options considered would not work on this particular application.
Aspex worked closely with Johan Doors and Abloy to offer compliant installation on double doors that had a narrow leaf, Abloy proposed the PE590 motor lock with a PBE002 panic bolt.
This configuration allows for the panic bar to be cut to suit the doors
reduced width, providing a compliant and safe solution for these doors.
The correct specification and finish
Most of the doors in Younger Hall had been in place since the 1920’s, and one side of the building was more exposed to sunlight. This had caused the doors on this side to drastically fade more than the other side, and the doors which sat centrally were a darker tone.
The ironmongery specified also needed to meet current building regulations and practicality for everyday use, while considering the heritage surroundings and volume of people visiting the building.
To get the correct finish, Johan Doors used solid walnut, and after several samples they found a stain to use on certain locations along with frames and detailed architrave.
Johan Doors prepared the doors and supplied Abloy compliant satin brass levers to complement the walnut door finish, which were installed by Aspex along with the compliant Abloy locks.
As a heritage project, doors had to blend with the existing appearance of the environment. The design had to be carefully considered to also allow for the positioning of panic bars or electric locks while mirroring the doors already in place, without compromising safety considerations in terms of mounting heights and operation.
Doors requiring electric locking had to be manufactured to allow for electrical wiring from the Abloy lockcase through the centre of the door, into the concealed door loop and through the frame.
Although this is quite simple on a flush door, on a solid mortice and
tenon door with joints and panels, quite a lot of detail and drawing is required ahead of manufacturing to ensure the longevity of the doorsets.
Working collaboratively
Louie Woodland, Director at Johan Doors Ltd, explained: “We all wanted to give the best result for the contractor and end client, so being open minded was essential to working collaboratively, and pulling together to ask, ‘how do we get this done?’
“We have had great feedback from the Estates Project Manager in charge of the Younger Hall redevelopment. It’s a beautiful traditional building, and yet the heritage doors with modern technology does not look out of place. The need for heritage doors combined with technology has never been greater, so hopefully we can work with Aspex and Abloy again on
similar projects in the future.”
Alan Thomson, Installation Manager at Aspex UK, added: “Aspex has been installing access control for the University of St Andrews for decades, and in that time the company has become adept at understanding what type of locks are tailored for each individual building.
“As Aspex currently have the maintenance contract for the access control and have had since 2007, we can categorially state that the Abloy products are by far the most versatile and the most reliable locks on the market. Working with Johan Doors on the Younger Hall project has been a great success which we hope to repeat.”
Rory Grant, Regional Specification Manager at Abloy UK, said: “Between the three companies and our extensive knowledge and experience, we were able to communicate and work out the best possible result.
It gives us great pride to have been involved in this project, which can be seen every time you drive past the main entrance of Younger Hall.”
Pauline Brown, Associate Chief Information Officer, University of St Andrews, commented: “The refurbishment of the impressive Younger Hall was no ordinary capital project for the University. Maintaining the integrity and historic nature of the building were critical, right down to the detail of the ironmongery.
“We’re so grateful to Aspex, Abloy UK and Johan Doors for working together to find appropriate solutions that continued to meet our requirements.”
For further information on products and services available from Abloy, visit https://bit.ly/3qYJ0jI.
Resilience recommendations
Why
universities are being told to improve their cyber resilience by Jack Porter, Public Sector Specialist,
Logpoint
Warnings issued by the Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc), Universities (UUK) and the National Cyber Security Sector (NCSC) in a joint report were realised last month when multiple UK universities were affected by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against the Janet network. The attack, said to be politically motivated with the pro-Palestinian Anonymous
Sudan group taking responsibility, lends weight to the assertion in the Cyber Security and Universities –Managing the Risk report that the sector needs to prepare for targeted attacks in addition to opportunistic attacks.
Updated at the tail end of last year, the report calls for institutions to improve their cyber resilience due to such growing threats. In addition to nation state attacks, it also warns of extortion attacks (i.e.
ransomware), the theft of research data and intellectual property such as research data, the use of infrastructure to monetise (i.e. cryptomining) and sabotage. It acknowledges that universities have made good progress in managing cyber risk but the exponential rise in the type of threats now facing the sector warrants further initiatives. Securing these institutions is a dichotomous problem, however, due to the need to maintain open access
while securing systems and services. This equates to a large attack surface that is unusually exposed due to the need to maintain flexible and remote access and national and international collaboration. Consequently, there’s a need to maintain secure access while ensuring the integrity of data.
To achieve this, the report makes three recommendations to strengthen the security posture, implement defence in depth (DiD), and maintain momentum through shared intelligence.
Resilience recommendations
Improving the security posture requires a multi-faceted approach and improving governance, assurance, technology and culture. All of these can be assessed to identify areas for improvement by answering Jisc’s 16 questions to assess security posture. In terms of assurance, compliance frameworks like ISO27001 and the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) are effective ways to demonstrate due diligence. And when it comes to establishing an effective cyber security culture, the report recommends following the NCSC’s guide to maintaining a sustainable, strengthened cyber security posture to build security awareness and avoid security staff burnout.
The DiD approach sees security mechanisms and processes layered to provide multiple opportunities
to stymy an attack. For example, in the event of a phishing attack, the first layer could make it difficult for attackers to reach users with phishing emails while a second layer could help users identify potential phishing emails through security awareness. Should the attack persist, a third layer might protect against the effects of undetected messages and if that fails a final layer could ensure effective response to incidents and reporting to mitigate the risk.
DiD should include preventative, detective, corrective, compensating and deterrent controls which should be interrelated, managed, and resourced appropriately. If we look at the detection level, for instance, universities should be able to monitor and sound alerts about incidents by scanning for vulnerabilities and unpatched systems, utilise a Security and Incident Event Management (SIEM) to monitor logs and provide threat detection and response, and audit administrative permissions and firewall rules, according to the report. But how are universities interpreting this best practice to improve their security posture in the real world?
Real world applications
At the University of Bedfordshire, it found its open source solution for detecting and responding to threats was overwhelming leading to alert
fatigue. Monitoring its network was made more difficult due to the fact it runs ethical hacking courses which could result in benign internal data breaches as opposed to malicious attacks and so it needed to be able to accurately assess incidents and reduce the mean time to detect (MTTD).
Bedfordshire decided to implement a SIEM in order to look for indicators of compromise (IoCs), attacks and patterns of threatening behaviour. It enabled the security team to qualify and focus on high-risk alerts which were mapped against the MITRE ATT&CK framework. This tracks the tactics and techniques used by adversaries helping analysts keep one step ahead.
Checking authentication was also vital to ensure access was maintained but not abused. The team were able to use the SIEM to monitor failed bad username/passwords at log-in, concurrency, user access time limits and instances where there were too many failed password attempts to see if systems are being subjected to enumeration attacks, for instance.
At Lancaster University, incidents were challenging to deal with because data logs were siloed in various systems and different formats so had to be converted and correlated in order to carry out investigations. It’s since used advanced analytics and correlation
tools within a SIEM to spot privilege misuse (i.e. where users abused login enabling them to see restricted data), observe network trends and investigate issues pre-emptively to stop them from escalating.
Yet now more than ever universities are seeing diminishing budgetary returns so any technology investment needs to be carefully evaluated. The report mentions that universities need to balance the costs of implementing security controls against the potential costs of a risk being realised and its impact, for instance, but they also need to be able to forecast how costs might rise.
All too often the licensing terms of security solutions make them cost prohibitive because they are based on the data volume throughput rather than on seats or nodes. This was a major issue for Lancaster University who wanted the predictability to be able to budget for their network monitoring and not be forced to exclude logs in the future to keep costs down and it illustrates the importance of evaluating the suitability of solutions in an HE context.
Share and tell Finally, the report advises
Alan Macklin
maintaining momentum by continuously improving and reviewing due to the dynamic security landscape. That means adapting when circumstances change so it’s important that institutions keep abreast of the evolving threat spectrum and that their tools can deal with new attacks. One technology that can assist here is Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) which builds playbooks based on current and emerging threats that provide a process for responding to specific incidents. As these automate response, they also help improve response times and significantly lighten the load of the security team.
An effective security ecosystem ultimately depends on sharing information about risks, threats, remediation, and experiences. By centralising log management for threat detection and response, case summaries can be created which universities can use to create reports on security cases to share, making it easier to inform others on threat developments and trends. It’s this ability to tap into and share threat intelligence that promises to help deliver on the ultimate aim of the report: defending as one.
As we saw with the compromise of the Janet network, universities are interconnected and therefore interdependent so there’s a need to raise the bar when it comes to the security posture across the sector as a whole. If universities do not secure data appropriately, it can have financial, reputational, and personal consequences. Cyberattacks can disrupt the teaching environment, resulting in fines, loss of control of digital estate, students losing coursework, and many other significant implications.
Universities have become a prime target for cybercriminals because of their societal impact. It’s therefore essential that the sector now reviews its security posture, its ability to maintain ‘business as usual’ in respect to business continuity planning and seeks to share and collaborate so that it has a unified and concerted approach to cybersecurity preparedness and response. Only then can we expect to see the sector become more resilient to such attacks.
For further information please visit Logpoint
Inspirational learning environments
• Constructor (modular building supply) and main contractor (as required) that offers a full turnkey solution approach.
• Architecturally designed & inspirational learning environments. Our buildings can be visually indistinguishable from traditionally built schools.
• Utilising SEISMIC platform design and achieving a high level of PMV.
• Customised to client specifications and needs. From glazing to wall cladding finishes; even teaching spaces can be configured.
• Repeatable classroom designs, creating efficiency through standardisation. Standardisation is key to driving greater efficiency throughout all aspects of the project and delivery.
• We are recognised by a number of key frameworks, which are the DfE MMC1 LOT 1, CCS, NHS-SBS and the LHC.
Asbestos awareness
Education is crucial for asbestos management in schools
One of the main issues with regards to asbestos exposure in schools is that many of the buildings in use in the UK were constructed before the year 2000. The use of asbestos was rife across the building industry between the 1930s and 1980s, with asbestos manufacturing companies promoting the material as a ‘wonder product’ unmatched in its fire and chemical resistant, soundproofing and heat insulating properties. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that more than 75 percent of Britain’s state schools
have been found to contain asbestos.
In school buildings, the most common uses of asbestos were in:
• Spray coatings for fire protection and insulation on concrete walls, ceilings and steelwork
• Insulation lagging, particularly around pipework, boilers and ducts
• Insulating boards
• Asbestos cement products
• Bitumen
• Floor tiles
• Textured paints and coatings
Who has the duty to manage asbestos?
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the primary responsibility to manage asbestos in a school lies with the duty holder. This is defined as anyone who has the responsibility for the maintenance and/or repair of the building. The duty holder has a legal responsibility for the safe management of any asbestos-containing materials that are present in a school, and is also liable for prosecution if the regulations are breached.
In order to manage the presence
of asbestos in buildings, duty holders are expected to survey their building, create a register of ACMs and write an asbestos management plan that details the procedures for monitoring the condition of ACMs.
The asbestos management plan is a vital document which registers and outlines the ways in which asbestos will be managed across a particular property, and how people using the site will be kept safe from exposure to the fibrous mineral. It should be clear, simple and easily accessible, and duty holders will need to ensure that it is reviewed regularly. The HSE also states that all schools must have a site-specific asbestos management plan, and that key stakeholders should be familiar with it.
Who is at risk from asbestos in schools?
The most likely way that ACMs will create a risk in schools is when they are disturbed or damaged through maintenance, repair or construction activities. With this in mind, school
caretakers are considered to be at high risk of asbestos exposure due to the nature of their work. If asbestos is disturbed during any of these activities, there is a risk that the fibres will be released and create a risk to other occupants of the building, such as teachers and students.
In addition, within a school environment, asbestos can be disturbed through activities of the students, such as the movement of table and chairs (rubbing against walls for example), kicking and throwing balls and in some cases vandalism. Given the age of many school buildings, the passing of time also increases the possibility of the general degradation of building materials.
If asbestos is in a good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed or damaged, it will not pose a significant risk to health as long as it is properly managed. It is, however, strongly recommended that teachers and children should not undertake
activities that damage ACMs, such as pinning or tacking work to insulating boards or ceiling tiles.
Asbestos Awareness training
Asbestos awareness training is vital for both school staff and contractors. As aforementioned, caretakers are often the most at risk, so asbestos awareness training would be a requirement for them, particularly as they carry out small maintenance jobs and activities that could potentially disturb and damage the fibrous mineral. All third-party contractors undertaking building and refurbishment works which could disturb ACMs should also be asbestos awareness trained, with the school instructing these works being required to check this as part of their engagement process.
Legal
responsibilities for asbestos management in schools
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
places a legal duty on employers to prevent exposure and assess the risks posed by asbestos. The Health and Safety Executive has estimated that asbestos may still be present in 300,000 non-domestic buildings and many more homes, despite the long-term efforts to remove it. With this in mind, MPs have now called for a 40-year deadline for all asbestos to be removed from public and commercial buildings, including schools.
More specifically, The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 states that the responsibility for maintaining premises that may contain asbestos lies with the duty holders. In schools, this can be classed as the duty holder or the governing body or the responsibility may be shared.
Duty holders must:
• Confirm what you already know about the ACMs on your premises, and review how you are currently managing them
• Prevent work on your premises that may disturb the fabric of the building until measures to control the risks have been implemented
• Carry out an initial inspection for damage and disturbance of materials and take immediate action to control these
• Develop a strategy for compliance
• Carry out a risk assessment of your ACMs to set priorities for management
• Develop a long-term management plan
• Monitor and review the management plan. How can SOCOTEC help?
SOCOTEC offers UKAS-accredited asbestos surveying and testing services, accompanied by asbestos management and consultancy services, giving those in the education sector expert advice to ensure asbestos is being managed properly in schools. Our highly experienced consultants offer independent advice and flexible solutions, which are supported by our own in-house UKAS-accredited testing and inspection schedules No.0148 and No.1089.
Does your educational organisation require support with asbestos management services?
Get in touch.
As Europe’s leading supplier, installer and integrator of digital television and audio visual equipment, Airwave can deliver your vision. With a presence in all key sectors including: healthcare, education, retail & leisure, stadia, prisons and transport, Airwave’s customer base is diverse.
www.airwave.tv
The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Our offering covers products and services related to openings, such as locks, doors, gates and entrance automation solutions. This also includes expertise in controlling identities with keys, cards, tags, mobile and biometric identity verification systems.
www.assaabloy.com
Club Car boasts nearly 60 years of industry-leading innovation and design, initially focused on golf cars and then expanding to commercial utility vehicles and personal-use transportation.
www.clubcar.com
As the UK’s market-leading provider of technology led compliance and risk management solutions, our purpose is to help organisations be safer, healthier, and stronger. Our guide explains a range of measures and safety commitments so that universities are fully prepared and to keep the spread of the virus under control.
www.alcumusgroup.com
Buildings today don’t only provide a safe, functional place for people to live and work. They can also cater for – and even respond to – their needs, while helping them work more efficiently and sustainably. At Bosch Building Technologies, we are at the forefront of these new developments.
www.boschbuildingtechnologies.com
Our education solutions are developed from the ground up to increase campus security and safety while extending the capabilities of student, faculty and staff ID badges. Our solutions can be used for convenient access to buildings, computer login, cashless vending and campus activities.
www.hidglobal.com
Hysopt is unique design software that helps building managers get the most out of their heating and cooling systems. In collaboration with installation companies and engineering firms, we can cut your annual energy bill by 10 to 50%.
www.hysopt.com
LapSafe® created its first products to meet the needs of the education market and although we have since expanded into many other sectors, this remains our largest and most established area of expertise. Our products have been thoroughly tested by every type of education and academic institution
www.lapsafe.com
Originally founded in 1921, the company known today as Mitsubishi Electric has almost 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high quality products and support to installers, specifiers, corporate clients and general consumers all over the world.
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk
From its inception in 2001, SALTO was created with one objective: to devise a world-class access control system that was simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs and secure all their doors without complex and expensive wiring.
www.saltosystems.com
As a trusted advisor and reliable partner, as a system integrator, service provider and a product vendor, Siemens offers energy-efficient, safe and secure buildings and infrastructure. With our people, our global footprint and our technical expertise, it's our passion helping you to create the perfect place – your perfect place.
www.siemens.com
Award-winning AV integrator, providing bespoke AV solutions with a strong company ethos, collegiality and partnership approach. Evolving with developments in AV technology allows Strive AV to deliver excellence across education, corporate, health and retail environments, providing AV solutions which transform communication and enhance end user’s experiences.
www.striveav.com
With more and more consideration being given to energy usage and the increasing implementation of green legislation, PumpSmart Limited is able to assist with the identification of areas where real energy savings can be made. New products, aimed at energy consumption reduction, are constantly entering the market with potential to improve existing installations.
www.pumpsmart.co.uk
We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies to realize the full efficiency and sustainability opportunities for your establishment. We provide end-point to cloud integration connecting products, controls, software and services.
https://www.se.com
Simpli-Fi are expert at helping educational establishments get the most out of wireless technology. We implement bespoke, reliable, scalable, flexible, and secure enterprise-grade, managed wireless networks that connect unlimited devices anywhere on site.
www.simpli-fi.co.uk
Veolia Water Technologies UK (VWT UK) is a leading water treatment solutions and services provider with a unique global presence and 160 years of experience. VWT UK strives to provide innovative solutions such as the new PURELAB Quest compact water purification unit that can generate Type I, II and III water.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.uk
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