3rd Innovative Learning SpacesSummit 20-21 Sept 2018

Karsan Vaghani

Deputy Director of Estates, Cardiff University

Barcelona

History

The University opened its doors on 24 October 1883 andwas formally established by Royal Charter in 1884

It merged with the University of Wales Institute of Scienceand Technology (UWIST) in 1988. In 1999 the public nameof the University changed to Cardiff University

In 2004 we merged with the University of Wales College ofMedicine.

Cardiff University Estate

Cardiff University is situated on over 68 hectares, focussed in the city’s civic centre

The University Estate splits into over 300 locations / premises with 129 academic and

administrative buildings and 167 residences buildings, all totalling over 450,000m2.

• Main Campus, Queens Building / Newport Road Campus

• Heath Park Campus all of which include the academic and administrative buildings

• 5,544 residences sites of Talybont, Campus and University Halls

The University estate also includes catering, day care and sports facilities, also managed by Estates

& Campus Facilities, which are located in academic and administrative buildings and on residences

sites. There are 4 restaurants (including a Staff Dining Club) and 11 coffee shops across the

campuses. The Day Care service is located in Park Place houses and there are 3 centres /

locations providing the University’s sports facilities.

The University Teaching Estate at a glance

• The University has 401 non-specialist teaching spaces designated as lecture theatres (87) or seminar spaces (314) comprising

– Over 23,000 m2 of floor space, roughly 2.5 times the size of the Principality Stadium pitch

– Over 18,000 seats, roughly a quarter of the seating of the Principality Stadium

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Physical Learning Programme

The PLS programme aims to create a step change in the standard of approximately 400 teaching

and learning spaces within the University. Since 2014, over 100 of the poorest condition spaces have

been refurbished.

The programme has two core activities of work: an annual cycle of major refurbishments during the

summer, and a stream of continuous tactical improvements.

University Council approved a total budget of £41.3M in March 2015 for the period from 2015 to

2023.

A total of £24.1M has been spent or committed so far, for the refurbishment of over 100 of the

learning spaces in the poorest condition across the University, over half of which have been large

and complex spaces.

Budget

The Physical Learning Space Programme

• PLS is not about refurbishing existing space like-for-like, rather it seeks to balance and optimise a number of different drivers including capacity (right-sizing), flexibility of space to support different teaching styles, and trialling cutting-edge technology to support creative methods of teaching delivery

• As the Timetabling project has progressed the ability of the PLS Programme to complete the detailed analysis necessary to inform the 'right-size' decisions has grown significantly, as recently evidenced by the design for Tŷ Dewi Sant this year

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Design Principles

There are 3 ways in which we can influence learning outcomes• Ventilation (high levels of

CO2= Drowsy Students)• Acoustic design

(background noise and reverberation = Grumpy Students)

• Excellent Teaching!

Ventilation

• Designing excellent ventilation can be challenging in refurbishment projects

Acoustics

• For larger spaces engage acoustic specialists to model the space and design an acoustic solution

• Wall & ceiling acoustic absorption to eliminate reverberation

• Note minimum performance standards in place for primary & secondary schools but not universities

Supporting Teaching

We cannot design excellent teaching but we can provide the foundations• Engage with academic staff to

understand the type of teaching and design accordingly

• Analyse timetable date to ‘right-size’ the space for teaching activity

• Provide reliable, standardised AV with a number of connection options (PC, laptop, tablet, phone)

• Advanced integration with Lecture Capture

Right-sizing Example

Created 2 flat floor flexible seminar spaces from an under utilised Lecture Theatre

What impact has PLS delivered to date?

• Understand Teaching requirements and provide the right tools

“Microphone and sound system is great.. I like the charging

points under the desks. It is light and airy and the windows no longer rattle, which is great.”(Physics Undergraduate N3.28)

“Better acoustics - easier to hear lecturer. Lighter & brighter than before.

Boards in a much better position. Easier to see &

hear from the back now.”(Mechanical Engineering

Student S1.32)

“Enjoy the overhead projector things, where the lecturer can draw under the

camera and it displays on the screen.. think that's an

awesome shout”(Chemistry Undergraduate Large

Chemistry)

“Seating is great. Great idea adding

plug sockets to seats.”

(Electrical Engineering Undergraduate 1.25)

Student Feedback

Academic Feedback

“Using the visualizer means I no longer have my back to the students. This coupled with being able to leave the lights on as the screens\projectors are so bright means I can see their faces and there is much more of a connection. Even the students at the back are asking questions which is unheard of.”Annabel Cartwright - Physics Lecturer

“The new rooms do make a big difference to the general

atmosphere (bright colours), and the bright dual-feed AV with

visualiser is seen as a big improvement to our old single

projector + OHP. Students also like the power sockets.”

Alan Kwan - Engineering Lecturer

65%

58%62% 62% 63%

54%

67%

56%

63%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Main/1.122 (SmallChemistry LT)

Main/1.123 (LargeChemistry LT)

Main/1.25 Main/1.40(Beverton LT)

Main/-1.64 (LargeShandon LT)

Occupancy

Occupancy 13/14 Occupancy 17/18

Utilisation -Main Building Usage Analysis

Key observation is that all refurbished spaces are used much more often

49%55%

52%

44%

58%

86%80%

76%81%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Main/1.122 (SmallChemistry LT)

Main/1.123 (LargeChemistry LT)

Main/1.25 Main/1.40(Beverton LT)

Main/-1.64 (LargeShandon LT)

Frequency

Frequency 13/14 Frequency 17/18

… but not all are being used to capacity, suggesting additional smaller spaces required in future phases

Utilisation -Main Building Usage Analysis

• There has been a significant increase in utilisation (Frequency x Occupancy)

• HEFCE guidelines (2006):– 35% or greater = good utilisation

– 25-35% = fair utilisation

– 25% or less = poor utilisation

32% 32% 32%

28%

37%

46%

53%

43%

51% 52%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Main/1.122 (SmallChemistry LT)

Main/1.123 (LargeChemistry LT)

Main/1.25 Main/1.40 (BevertonLT)

Main/-1.64 (LargeShandon LT)

Utilisation

Utilisatrion 13/14 Utilisatrion 16/17

Queen’s South Room 1.22

Queen’s South Room 1.22

Over the next five years…

£38m to transform learning and teaching spaces

Queen’s South Room 1.22

Trevithick 2.09 Faculty Lecture Theatre

Trevithick 2.09 Faculty Lecture Theatre

Trevithick 2.09 Faculty Lecture Theatre

Queen’s North 4.07 Prince Phillip Lecture Theatre

Queen’s North 4.07 Prince Phillip Lecture Theatre

Queen’s North 4.07 Prince Phillip Lecture Theatre

Main -1.64 Shandon Lecture Theatre

Main -1.64 Shandon Lecture Theatre

Main -1.64 Shandon Lecture Theatre

Main 1.40 Lecture Theatre

Main 1.40 Lecture Theatre

Heath Lecture Theatre 3

Heath Lecture Theatre 3

Heath Lecture Theatre 1

Heath Lecture Rooms 1 & 2

Main 1.22 Small Chemistry Lecture Theatre

Main 1.23 Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre

Queen’s North N1.32

Queen’s North N3.28

Queen’s South S1.25

Queen’s South S1.30/S1.31

Queen’s South S1.32

Completed Projects

Completed Projects

Completed Projects

Thank You

Any Question

Karsan Vaghani

vaghanik@cardiff.ac.uk