Strategic Plan 2017-2021 Progress Report

Buildings and Estates Strategic Plan 2017-2021 Progress Report

In 2017, Buildings and Estates published a five-year strategic plan to provide a medium-term development and management plan both for the department itself and the UL estate. The plan was written to align with and support Broadening Horizons, UL’s strategic plan 2015-2019. Whilst the activities of B&E have always supported the strategic direction of the University, this was the first strategic plan devised by B&E. To support the UL plan, B&E identified the following five pillars around which to formulate its own plan.

An overview of the status in December 2019 of each pillar is presented below.

2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5

2.6

Infrastructure improvement plan

Space strategy

Vehicular access strategy

Sustainability strategy

Excellence

2.2

Infrastructure improvement plan

2.3

Space strategy

2.4

Vehicular access strategy

2.2.1 Capital development plan

2.2.2 Refurbishment plan 2016–2018

2.2.3 Campus and landscape development plans

2.2.4 Parking for special campus and sports events

2.2.5 Student accommodation

2.3.1 Management of existing spaces

2.3.2 Space planning Construction of the new Student Centre and Climbing Wall commenced.Work on repurposing Park Point unit 2 for CONFIRM is underway. University purchased former Dunnes Stores in Sarsfield / Liddy Street. Services etc. being brought back in to commission. Plan will be designed for the development of the site. The University also purchased Larkins House at the entrance to the University. See also 2.2.3

UL Executive have funded a number of items not envisaged when this plan was written.These include items such as Fire Safety Works across a number of buildings, the External Lift at the Foundation Building to address accessibility and repair to broken main watermain. Funding to facilitate resurfacing of the Main Avenue in 2020 secured.

The Campus Masterplan which is being renamed as the Framework for Physical Development is due to be launched early in 2020. The Campus Landscaping Masterplan will follow.

Additional parking for special campus and sporting events in place as part of Maguires Pitches development. A Link road work from Kilmurry to the University Road (at Troy Studios) will commence in Q1 2020.

Refurbishment of the second half of Dromroe Village was completed during summer 2019.

The Campus Masterplan which is being renamed as the Framework for Physical Development (FPD) is due to be launched early in 2020. B&E contributing to the FPD.

Draft terms of reference and membership for a Space Management Committee are expected to be ratified by the Executive Committee imminently.

2.4.1 10-minute city-to-UL link

2.4.2 Limerick Northern Distribution Road*

2.4.3 University Road exit at National Technology Park* LCCC together with the National Transport Authority have commenced work on developing a Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. B&E submitted its/UL’s vision for a Transport Strategy for the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area in Aug 2019 in response to a call for submissions.

UL carried out works on campus to create a northern exit route. This may operate on an agreed and permanent basis pending discussion with the Local Authority.

Limerick County Council to commence works on ‘University Road’ serving Troy Studios, Hamilton House etc. circa April 2020. The junction improvement will enable UL to complete road connection into Kilmurry Village and thereby creating a third exit on to Plassey Park Road for UL traffic. Completion targeted for autum 2020 though other work on Plassey Park Road onto Dublin Road adjacent to Vistakon are currently underway and have been prioritised

2.5

Sustainability strategy

2.6

Excellence

2.5.1 ISO 50001 A condition survey template has been devised and is to be populated for all buildings.

2.5.2 Energy behaviour change Physical infrastructure to enable commissioning of the Office of Public Works (OPW) energy monitoring and targeting (EM&T) system now in place. Commissioning to take place in Q1 2020. OPW have commenced an energy review of buildings.

2.5.3 Waste management Recently deployed water bottle filling stations issued 383,189 no. 330ml dispenses over the last quarter. EPS/ UL named as winner of the Best Green Procurement Project 2019 at a national awards ceremony. Details of the project circulated to all within the Department of Education and Skills.

2.5.4 Biodiversity action plan UL has signed up to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan

2.5.5 Ground water Ground water used at (i) Maguires Pitches, (ii) Arena, (iii) PESS and (iv) Shcrodinger. Filtering system in the Arena,PESS and Schrodinger to be upgraded.

2.6.1 B&E staff plan

2.6.2 Quality management system

2.6.3 Customer engagement

2.6.4 Stakeholder engagement

2.6.5 Benchmarking

2.6.6 Technical improvements The process to recruit 3 no. new porters has commenced.

Quality Self Assessment Report (SAR) for external review was issued to Quality Support Unit in December. B&E quality self-assessment took place. Quality Manual and all Quality Procedures reviewed. These have been added to the B&E Quality Improvement Plan. Preparations continuing for the External Quality Review scheduled to take place in March 2020.

New method of collecting customer feedback trialled using Office 365 software. 725 no. recent customers surveyed.22% response rate. Feedback overwhelmingly positive. Exercise to be repeated in Q1 2020.

Stakeholder engagement ongoing. Focus groups with staff and students took place in September faciliated by an external moderator.Overall feedback was extremely positive.

UL maintained its position as 20th in the world in the UI Green Metric rankings despite a rise in numbers of Universities entering. Application for the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking currently being prepared.

Report due by Q1 2020 on the merits/demerits and costs of installing a CAFM (Computer-aided facility management). New Grounds fleet due for delivery in January 2020.