If all goes well, the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus can undergo a much needed facelift with proposals for student lounge, day- care and a security headquarters. Final and third year students from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technology are currently engaged in a project which will provide a draft design for a remodelled look of the Turkeyen Campus, based on feedback from staff and students.
The preliminary plan for Turkeyen Campus was presented before an audience of students and staff at the Centre for Information Technology, Lab 1 on October 24, 2011. The students were tasked with developing a plan, with the aim of addressing issues such as security, space and accommodation for different purposes, transportation, parking, and recreational activity, while also examining the overall rehabilitation of landscape on campus.
Students of the architectural department pose with head of the department, William Harris
Head of the Architectural Department, William Harris said that research was conducted in the preparatory phase by students in order to assess and examine the physical conditions of all roads, foot and mud paths; shrubs, lawns and trees; canals, drains, sewer systems as well as demographics of students and buildings on campus.
Harris noted that from information gathered, there are currently 43 old buildings on the campus with only five new or recent buildings.
At least two of these buildings, the library and the Centre for Communication Studies have been found to be structurally defective.
Harris explained that the sewer system which was built in 1969 to accommodate 164 students has also been deemed grossly inadequate.
Commenting on the dilemma of portable water for a student population of 5000, Harris noted that this is another issue that should be scrutinised and addressed.
He stated that feedback so far have garnered several ideas for a more modernised campus with proposed buildings to house satellites, a lecture hall, registry, indoor/ outdoor sporting facility, communications centre, lounge area for students, an academic mall, a day- care centre, security headquarters, project office and a lab oratory complex among others.
It was pointed out that the development of signage on campus is an important factor since adequate notices are needed as a measure to identify buildings among other things.
Students have also made various requests to have the landscape on campus enhanced by including more bodies of water in the form of ponds and fountains.
In addition, it was suggested that arrangements be made for an alternative system of water supply on campus to accommodate the 5000- plus student population.
One recommendation highlighted that to improve the water situation, a well needs to be built and a water treatment plant installed.
Vice-Chancellor , Professor Lawrence Carrington said that the project should be seen as a continuous venture by the department, since the changes cannot occur overnight.
“This should become a continuous process to engage the possibilities of what the campus can become,” Professor Carrington said.
