Construction work on two lecture theatres in Appleton Tower is expected to be finished early 2025.
The work being conducted on the south side of the building is affecting lecture halls four and five due to the discovered use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
RAAC is a lightweight concrete mostly used in flat roofing installed between the 1950s and 1990s that is now liable to collapse.
Surveying and construction works began on the building in September 2023 following updated guidance from the Department of Education on the risk of RAAC.
Recounting the disruption caused by relocating, one staff member told The Student that staff were initially told they would be able to return in September 2024.
Speaking to The Student, the project manager for the Appleton Tower project said that the University of Edinburgh “responded quickly and have acted decisively”.
“The works that are being undertaken are extremely complex to manage and are being carried out as quickly as could safely be allowed,” they added.
The Rutherford Building on the King’s Buildings Campus is also undergoing the removal of RAAC.
However, the university said the affected area is small and the majority of the estate is unaffected.
The University of Edinburgh has contracted the removal of RAAC panels in Appleton Tower and the Rutherford Building at the cost of £5,964,129.
Earlier this year, a university spokesperson told The Student £770,000 had been spent on the surveying and remediation as of 24 January 2024.
According to the project manager the removal work provides opportunities to upgrade Appleton’s lecture theatres and increase energy efficiency.
Students who have studied at Appleton Tower told The Student that they failed to notice any disruption to their day to day schedule when using the building, despite the physical and visual intrusion of the project.
The project manager added that:
“[The university] is making efforts to minimise the impact on students and staff by providing alternative spaces and resources.”
“Appleton Tower” by Stormy clouds is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
