Name: Daniel Gibbons
Job Title: Senior Project Manager
Department: Estates

Can you tell us a little bit about your role?

One of the key roles of the solutions development team is to develop projects from an initial concept through to a defined project requirement with a strong vision and strategic objectives, therefore providing a robust basis for the further expansion of the brief and the subsequent feasibility studies.

How have you been involved in the Oculus Building project?

I've acted as the client project manager through the design phases of the project. This has included assisting the University in defining the vision and objectives for the project, then ensuring these come to fruition through the developing design iterations.

What do you like best about the building?

The fact the majority of the strategic objectives defined at the project conception have been achieved in the building including ‘A living building’, ‘Architecturally outstanding‘ and ‘Provides a connection with the landscape’.

What challenges have you faced in your work on the building?

One of the key challenges has been maintaining the majority of the project objectives while maintaining the project within the required budget. In addition it has been a challenge to mitigate the impact of the development on the day to day running of the campus.

Now that it’s open, what’s the next thing you’re working on?

Various projects at the early stages of development including the proposed new Faculty of Arts project, the further development plan for the Gibbet Hill campus and visioning work for key areas of the University estate including University Road, the Science Area etc.