In a blog post titled ‘Improving experience and accessibility for our campus’ central spaces’, the University has announced its plans to close the Main Quad and the ground floor of the Wilkins Building from mid-December 2024 to January 2026 for major renovations ahead of its bicentenary anniversary in 2026.
Nick Miao Co-Editor-in-Chief
The works represent the first phase of UCL’s ominously named ‘Estates Masterplan’ which, according to UCL Estates, is ‘A holistic and integrated plan, developed in consultation, to develop and operate our estate for the next 25 years.’ In other words, UCL students now and into the mid-to-near future can expect quite a lot of construction work in and around campus.
With three months to go before the Quad and the Cloisters are set to shut until after some of you graduate, one would hope that the University has a plan to mitigate the impact this would have on our campus experience. However, one source close to the University told The Cheese Grater that while concerns were raised about the potential disruptions the closure will cause as early as July, UCL still has not finalised its plan on how to mitigate the disruptions. When we asked UCL for comment earlier this month, a spokesperson said,
‘We recognise that the works are going to have an impact on regular activities that would normally take place in the Quad and Wilkins Building.
‘The long-term improvement to these spaces, particularly regarding accessibility, will benefit and enhance our students’ experience for years to come.
‘Finding ways to limit that disruption for our students and staff is a top priority and we are drawing up plans with relevant stakeholders, including Students’ Union UCL, to mitigate the impact and support the community.’
UCL Estates Director of Capital Programme Hannah Milner added, ‘Working with key stakeholders, the Estates Capital Development team are looking forward to kickstarting the first phase of physical refurbishments across UCL to achieve project delivery of the central spaces in time for the Bicentennial celebrations in 2026. Creating spaces with a multi-functional capacity for the community is a consistent driver for both UCL and the talented team delivering this ground-breaking project.’
UCL tells us that the Estates Masterplan is aimed to ‘enhance the campus experience for everyone who works, studies and visits here. It is our shared environment and the setting for our success.’ And yet, with still no solid plans to mitigate the disruptions for the students who are already here, it is difficult to see how we fit into UCL’s vision of a ‘shared environment’.
This is probably because the new Quad was never intended to serve current students but rather those who are willing to pay an arm and a leg in a few years’ time. According to its 2022-27 Strategy Plan, UCL sees this as an ‘opportunity to increase the efficiency of our space utilisation’ and intends to ‘re-examin[e] our policy on unregulated student fees’ to ‘meet market demand’.
One society expecting to feel the impact of the closure is the Balls! Juggling and Circus Society, which has been meeting in the North Cloisters for the last twenty years and holds a monthly fire juggling night in the Quad. Shockingly, its President Adam Klicka only learned about the closure when prompted by The Cheese Grater. He said, ‘I’ve been completely in the dark… most of the info about it I got from you. Honestly, I’m quite worried.’ He added, ‘I feel like they are trying to keep it quiet so no one speaks up.’
In its reckless pursuit of expansion (to ‘meet market demand’), the University seems to have forgotten about those of us who are already here!
This article appeared in CG 88.