The first few months of 2018 has seen a period of refurbishment and refreshment at Madingley Hall, the home of the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge. Many projects, both virtual and physical, that have been long in the planning stage have finally come to fruition.
The long awaited Madingley Hall website redevelopment has been completed www.madingleyhall.co.uk and a fresh and vibrant feel has been developed with the help of www.chameleonstudios.co.uk. New video content has been recorded with the help of www.govocalmedia.com and they really celebrate the beauty of the 16th century building.
The reception redevelopment project has also started and will hopefully be completed in late April 2018. The creation of an additional entrance area and more traditional reception desk should help to provide a welcoming and professional start to any student, delegate or guest journey at the Institute. More akin to a Porters Lodge in a traditional Cambridge College environment, the new reception area will provide a one-stop shop of information across the Institute.
The necessary but rather imposing scaffolding structure at the front of the Hall has been removed after the long awaited completion of the lead replacement works to the front façade. A long time project was hampered by high winds, the Christmas break and “The Beast from East” but eventually was finished in time for the Institute’s Open Day on Saturday 17 March.
After much deliberation and colour selection the Bar Refurbishment project is also ready to start onsite. The installation of more relaxed seating options and dynamic, Cambridge-centric design should hopefully provide a more comfortable environment for students, delegates and guests to work, share or collaborate as well as relax over a locally produced beverage or freshly prepared meal.
Other projects in the pipeline and hopefully starting in this academic year are the undercover garages and storage improvements, this project will hopefully include electric vehicle charging points and see the long awaited demise of the wooden structure on that area. Improvements to teaching equipment are also in discussion. A recent survey of Institute teaching staff has highlighted some possible enhancements that could be made and the Institute’s Senior Management Team will be working through some proposals in time for the next academic year.
The start of 2018 also celebrated a notable achievement in the life of one colleague, as our Head Gardener; Richard Gant celebrated 30 years’ service at the Institute. As a formidable plantsman and all round horticulturalist, he has overseen made changes and developments to the garden over that period of time and the glory and beauty of the garden is testament to his hard work and dedication over the years. Well done Richard and here’s to the next 30!!