“A long list of services and infrastructure are up and running”
Moving a whole department to a new location requires extraordinary efforts in careful preparation and planning, and ongoing flexibility and response during execution. And it requires dedicated and forward-looking people who manage this demanding process. Interview with Niels Bürckert, Head of Facility Services for Science and Teaching (FaST) – and manager of the largest moving the D-BSSE has ever seen.
About half of the moving is completed. Niels, we are all wondering: where do we stand…? Let’s start with the question: Are we good in time..?
Yes, we are good in time. There are no delays at the moment. A challenge is the commissioning of the building itself since we are missing 1.5 months. We had asked for six months preparation time but we only received 4.5 months. This is the reason why all the technical systems are not yet running in an optimal way at the moment. For example, the cooling and air ventilation system is not running constantly. And with the move-in of people and scientific equipment the building parameters again have to be readjusted. Also, the doors are an ongoing topic, they are causing us various problems…
You already mentioned challenges. What runs smoothly?
Well, everything related to the move is according to the plan. Already the first groups have successfully moved in and are functional. They are working in the labs and in the offices, so, downtime was really short. This was a major goal!
Of course we receive a lot of questions at the moment and we can only deal with those questions that are essential and important. Of course additional packing material can be delivered after very short notice since our company is based in Basel. Some other topics are work-in-progress; for example, we know there are issues with Multimedia - it is a bit shaky sometimes - and people should know we are working on it. But I am very proud to say that, for instance, the BSSE Shop, the logistic and postal services are working and the workshop is up and running. All the cryo-tanks, backup minus 80°C freezers, ice machines, ultrapure water systems, and so forth are all running. We also get external support from Zurich. For example, the hazardous waste disposal is in place, sterilisation, dish washing etc. are working.
The student work stations have been used from the beginning of the semester. It is very nice to see how the building is filled with life!
I would also like to mention that other services are operational, including showers, wardrobe lockers. In addition, the Info Service Center is up and running. Of course also the entire Administration including IT is now located in the new building, printers have been installed… You see it is a long list of all the services and infrastructure that are up and running.
Any learnings…?
All the ‘moving heros’ and the members of the facility services have done an excellent job so far. Of course also all the group members are crucial in this process. The best planning cannot work without the people involved. What I have seen is that the preparations within the groups were very precisely done to an extent that the moving went smoothly and functionality could be secured within very short time. Let me also mention at this point that equipment cannot be left behind, there is a de-inventory process in place. Also, we need a special declaration that equipment has been disinfected, the surfaces of the tables and the chemical hoods have been cleaned - all processes involved in the returning of the labs and offices in the old buildings are part of a separate project my team takes care of. Once again: at this moment we can only deal with essential requests, for example if something in your lab is not working or so. For all the other requests we ask people to be patient please!
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Moving of the Single Cell and the Lab Automation Facility. -
Moving of the IT Services and Consulting. -
Moving of the Cleanroom Facility and workshops.
What do those of us who have not yet moved, need to know or take special care of when packing up our stuff or unpacking…?
What I see is that people are very professional and ask the right kind of questions. We are always there for them and provide all the materials they need for the move. What I noticed is that if the furnitures in the labs are labelled in advance then the moving company can be very efficient. Also people working in the labs should know where things are placed and stored - and do not order things that are actually already in the lab. It is fairly easy to consider this recommendation, all rooms have been labelled with room number.
When are water dispensers and coffee machines being installed?
On the 6 November! On the K-floor in the self-catering area there will be two coffee machines. Also, water dispensers as we know them, i.e., with chilled water and bubbly water, will be installed. At the Science Lounge, we will also have a barista coffee machine. On the E-floor, the ground floor, in the area we used to call bistro - it will now be called: Flavour Kitchen - there will be a water tapping point and a barista coffee machine. All these installations will be in place on the 6 November.
What is next on the timeline…? For example, will there be a sale of old furnitures and equipment at the old building?
Yes! Of course it depends on the de-inventorisation of (scientific) equipment and furnitures. But it is the plan that there will be a big sale on one or two days by the end of November. People can purchase tables and chairs that will be labelled. The exact date(s) will be communicated.
..and the catering services, when do the Flavour Kitchen and the Science Lounge restaurant open?
On the 13 November. I can hardly wait..!
…and on 28 November the Staff Party takes place…
Yep!
…and the handover of the old buildings BSA/BSD will be when..?
On the 22 December, this date marks the official return of the old buildings to the University of Basel - this is a project on its one. There are a lot of people involved in this project too, it is all in good hands.
Finally, what shall people do in case of questions?
Okay, yes: all questions related to air flow and cooling should contact Facility Services. Also, if keys need to be ordered; cleaning and waste disposal are also typical topics for Facility Services. Lab-related topics such as orders of chemicals or glass wear, cleaning of dishes, alarming of equipment, etc. these are topics for the FaST team. We receive your requests using .
Thanks, Niels, we all know you are extremely busy these days - big thanks for all your efforts!
This interview was conducted as part of the Digital Campus held on 17 October 2023.
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