Update on Lawress Hall Development

Colleagues can now keep up to date on the development of Lawress Hall through a new project website, staff representative groups, and town hall talk.

The project website features latest updates, FAQs and photography from the renovation at Lawress Hall, including aerial video showing the building and its location in the grounds of the University’s picturesque Riseholme Campus.

As colleagues will already be aware, Lawress Hall is being developed as a new home for Professional Services and is expected to be ready for colleagues to begin moving into from early summer 2023.

With more than 300 workspaces including designated ‘homezones’ for Professional Services teams to come together, this major addition to the University’s estate will provide a variety of activity-based collaborative space. The interior has been purposefully designed, with a biophilic (nature-inspired) theme, to support collaboration within and across departments and is based on modern agile working approaches.

Visit the project website and FAQs at: https://estates.lincoln.ac.uk/lawress/

Read on below for a summary of recent developments, including updates on the expected move date, the free shuttlebus service for staff, new guided tours of the building and campus, and how colleagues can get involved in shaping the move and creation of this new environment via staff representative groups.

Timescales and Expected Move Dates

The University’s lead contractor for the renovation, Lincolnshire-based construction firm Lindum Group, began work on site at Lawress Hall in November 2022. Currently we expect the renovation to be completed in early summer, and colleagues will begin moving to Lawress Hall following handover. Professional Services staff with their own homezones at Lawress Hall will be supported by management teams as we begin planning for the transition. Estimated move-in dates for departments will be shared in the next two months.

Presence at Brayford Pool

Some Professional Services teams will retain dedicated office space on the Brayford Pool Campus because their roles require regular face-to-face interaction with students – this includes the Library, Careers & Employability Service, Student Support Centre, and College-based Professional Services teams. A new Student Facing Hub will be created in the Minerva Building for several other student-facing services, such as Global Opportunities. Lawress Hall will otherwise become the normal place of work for most Professional Services teams.

There will be various options for teams and individuals to work flexibly between the Brayford and Riseholme campuses and with the opportunity to work from home when their role and departmental requirements allow, in alignment with the University’s Hybrid Working Guidance. Typically, colleagues might expect to be on campus two days a week (based on a five-day week). Colleagues will be able to make use of touchdown spaces, including quiet office spaces and meeting rooms, on the Brayford Pool Campus. More details on workspaces available for Professional Services teams at Lawress Hall and Brayford Pool and interaction between locations will be shared as this work progresses.

Shuttlebus Service

An hourly shuttle bus will connect the Brayford and Riseholme campuses throughout the working day, from 7.30am until 6.30pm, and will be free for staff and students showing a University ID (eg. staff card). Lincolnshire-based PC Coaches has been appointed to run the service. The timetable, including pick-up and drop-off locations, is published on the Lawress Hall project website FAQs.

Furniture and ICT Equipment

Lawress Hall will be equipped with new office furniture and ICT equipment, with extra-wide monitors featuring integrated docking station allowing colleagues to bring their university laptop to support agile working. Meeting rooms will also be fitted with high-specification AV (audio-visual) technology for effective hybrid meetings. Colleagues can try out the new desk and workplace equipment by visiting a sample desk configuration in the ICT Department in Minerva Building (MB1300). Simply drop in to the ICT Support Hub during normal office hours. Test equipment can also be set up on request in Professional Services office areas in agreement with management teams.

Staff Representative Groups

Colleagues from Professional Services teams are contributing to a new Ways of Working Group exploring how Lawress Hall can enable new approaches to agile working and collaboration. A Staff Representative Group has also been established to help inform how colleagues will share the space and develop the community at Lawress Hall. All Professional Services areas have been invited to nominate members. If you would like to get involved, please speak to your line manager in the first instance.

Site Visits

There are additional opportunities to visit Lawress Hall as the renovation progresses over the coming months. Some teams have already visited the building and campus but regular guided tours can now be arranged on request through the Estates Department. If you would like to arrange a site visit, please use the Lawress Hall tours booking form (link opens in Microsoft Forms). Please be aware that safety equipment (eg. hard hats) will need to be worn and will be provided where necessary.

Virtual Town Hall

Chief Operating Officer Simon Parkes will host his next Town Hall Talk on Wednesday 8 March at 11am for colleagues to learn more about Lawress Hall and to ask questions. The event will take place as a Microsoft Teams virtual event via this joining link (opens in Microsoft Teams). Colleagues can post questions in the Q&A before and during the event.

Further Information

If you have questions about Lawress Hall and how the change will affect you and your team, please speak to your line manager in the first instance.