Western Gateway Building

Same As

= The New IT building on Western Road, for those wondering WTF 'WGB' is on the new timetables!

Was in there the other day, pretty savage inside, mainly post-grad offices along with the Computer Science and Math Science departments. Don't think there will be an open access computer lab for students other than Maths and Computer science as the only labs that are there at the moment are specifically for the aforementioned students. There was no printing facility there as of yesterday, I'm sure this will arrive as soon as college starts.

Restaurant not open yet but will be a big plus for students living in the likes of Victoria Mills and University hall (here's hoping its decent food!)

The Journey time to Brookfield from Victoria Cross has been halved since the new bridge link finally opened!

AFAIK, only 3 floors of the building have been furnished, with the remaining 2 to be completed when funding becomes available (10+ years considering the colleges' current financial state!) :pac:

sleepyescapade

Looking forward to moving in there

rebel girl 15

I was wondering that all right, looking at the timetable!

Knasher

There is also a rooftop cafe, which isn't done yet but will hopefully be open before the two top floors are furnished. Its a pretty nice building al-right (along with teh new building smell :P ).

AFAIK as the OP said there is no general access computer labs, and no plans for one either. There is also no wireless access for laptops, but that should come eventually (You have no idea how closely they are watching the network here atm, just a warning to returning students).

KnifeWRENCH

Looking forward to moving in there in September. Half my classes will be there, with the other half in the Kane. There was a thread with photos of the new building made a while back: here

Same As wrote: »

AFAIK, only 3 floors of the building have been furnished, with the remaining 2 to be completed when funding becomes available (10+ years considering the colleges' current financial state!) :pac:

I read somewhere that the President wants to take the top floor and put a nightclub up there! That rumour may not be entirely accurate though.

deRanged

I've been working in there for a month now.
It's a fantastic building. my only complaints are that they've only opened the toilets on the ground floor, and the non stop beeping of various alarms is really annoying.

It's brilliant how much light and air is in the place - specially compared to the Kane building. They're opening at least some of the 3rd floor for cancer research, and the 4th is being left empty. I've heard if you turn up with 10 million you can have it.

The ground floor lecture theatres look nice - I didn't get to try the seats but they look dead comfy. I didn't think the top floor "scenic restaurant" was opening at all, but I could be wrong (I hope I am).

The Centra down by Victoria Cross is less than 5 minutes walk, so it's almost better served than we were on campus.

Once the shop in the building and the ground floor canteen open we'll be laughing.

Wireless is around October I think, so basically for the start of term.

Same As

deRanged wrote: »

The ground floor lecture theatres look nice - I didn't get to try the seats but they look dead comfy.

A Few of us took the liberty of testing em out, - they look just as comfy as they are!

Gutted I won't be in there much/at all!

Cows Go µ

Same As wrote: »

A Few of us took the liberty of testing em out, - they look just as comfy as they are!

Oh no, I'm never going to be able to stay awake in my morning lectures now!

I can't wait to see the new building, I'm leaving it until practically my first day back though, I want it to be a nice surprise

deRanged

Same As wrote: »

A Few of us took the liberty of testing em out, - they look just as comfy as they are!

Gutted I won't be in there much/at all!

if I'm ever in there I'll be at the front standing up

Cows Go &#181 wrote:

Oh no, I'm never going to be able to stay awake in my morning lectures now!

watching people like you sleep

I must take a few more photos now that the place is starting to take shape.

samf

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

I read somewhere that the President wants to take the top floor and put a nightclub up there! That rumour may not be entirely accurate though.

Haha ok im not sure where you read that but funnily enough it was me that the president said that to! He was obviously joking though, his point was that he wished to keep as much entertainment on-campus as possible this year to help reduce the debt.

CantGetNoSleep

Knasher wrote: »

There is also a rooftop cafe, which isn't done yet but will hopefully be open before the two top floors are furnished. Its a pretty nice building al-right (along with teh new building smell :P ).

AFAIK as the OP said there is no general access computer labs, and no plans for one either. There is also no wireless access for laptops, but that should come eventually (You have no idea how closely they are watching the network here atm, just a warning to returning students).

What are they looking out for watching the network?

Same As

I'd assume downloading from rapidshare, megaupload etc...

Sepulchrave

I heard on UCC Forum that there is going to be assigned seating for students in the computer labs, does anyone know if that is true?

deRanged

I very much doubt the assigned seating - I'll check it tomorrow and see.

deRanged

I checked out one of the small lecture theaters this morning. fair play if ye can sleep there.





they look well kitted out in terms of AV, whiteboards and so on.

save_our_socks

Looks like a nice building.....but am baffled as to why I have two lectures in there....Early Childhood Studies student....they really dont care where they stick us, over in the CEC one minute, Northside Primary School the next then the WGT, hopefully they change it! Sigh lots of walking for me in Janurary, well it starts in September to brookfield for my placement, Im gonna be shattered!

Sepulchrave

God almighty that lecture room, it's horrendous! Maybe it look's better in real life than in the pictures deRanged?

Thanks for the pics Any of the CS undergrad labs?

Knasher

Looks like a nice building.....but am baffled as to why I have two lectures in there....Early Childhood Studies student....they really dont care where they stick us, over in the CEC one minute, Northside Primary School the next then the WGT, hopefully they change it! Sigh lots of walking for me in Janurary, well it starts in September to brookfield for my placement, Im gonna be shattered!

Actuall the wgb makes alot of sense for you, there is a foot bridge between your main building and the new one. So its really very close for you.

Speaking of AV, was passing by one of the computer labs and there seams to be two projectors in each of them. Complete overkill, but what the hell. The new pcs look really nice aswell, core 2 duo's with very large monitors.

deRanged

the canteen opened yesterday. seems small but we'll see.
from the menu - chips|water|energy drink 1€, chips, beans & sausage 3€, and there were 4 and 6 euro student specials. they have a fancy looking bean to cup coffee machine too.

MJJOS wrote:

Maybe it look's better in real life than in the pictures deRanged?

eh, no. looks just like that. the main one might be nicer though - it's got tiered seating.

x43r0

Knasher wrote: »

Actuall the wgb makes alot of sense for you, there is a foot bridge between your main building and the new one. So its really very close for you.

Speaking of AV, was passing by one of the computer labs and there seams to be two projectors in each of them. Complete overkill, but what the hell. The new pcs look really nice aswell, core 2 duo's with very large monitors.

The projecters they put in are Full HD capable and the machines in the lecture podiums have blu-ray drives. Movie night anyone??

The meeting rooms in each research area have a huge plasma tv, sound system and blu-ray player

This really should be called the overkill building, so much money gone into it

Knasher

Ok, they have just kicked the overkill up a notch. Just noticed that they have put a television at the foot of the stairs, kinda like you would see in a airport (or a company cafeteria, for showing company propaganda). No idea what exactly they plan on showing there, but wow.

I know this building was paid for long before the recession, and will hopefully survive long after. So I'm willing to understand that everything will be a little over the top in terms of equipment. But this is getting a little crazy at this point.

Sepulchrave

Knasher wrote: »

Ok, they have just kicked the overkill up a notch. Just noticed that they have put a television at the foot of the stairs, kinda like you would see in a airport (or a company cafeteria, for showing company propaganda). No idea what exactly they plan on showing there, but wow.

Wow, sounds like they are trying to compete with CIT, I paid a visit to a friend there some months ago, they also have flat screen TV's hanging from the ceiling in their students union building showing Sky News hehe :P

deRanged

Knasher wrote: »

Ok, they have just kicked the overkill up a notch. Just noticed that they have put a television at the foot of the stairs, .

looks like there's one on each floor, wired for sound as well.
I've no idea what they're for. I've already checked and they have inputs suitable for a wii. lovely open space too - ideal for wii tennis.

Tomtom364

im looking forward to starting my course there.

as for the over kill. to be fair lads... it is the building for the comp geeks (such as myself). we like technology

Sepulchrave

I think the point they are making is that it is not really important. Sure we love the tech, but the money may have been better spent. Last year when I went in to a lab in Block E FSB, the computer took 25 minutes to start before I was able to do anything, and my friends had already completed the lab sheet! I thought the department was €1.5 million (according to Derek Bridge, maybe I misheard) in debt? WGB cost more than budgeted and now they are putting in pointless TV's?!

I actually went into the building today, it was fantastic! I can't wait to go back! I especially can't wait for fast computers It did however seem kind of dark. Maybe they don't turn on so many lights at the weekend? I was shocked by it's sheer size though! I went into one of the lecture rooms and the seats were black in that rooom, not red thank God!

deRanged wrote: »

looks like there's one on each floor, wired for sound as well.
I've no idea what they're for. I've already checked and they have inputs suitable for a wii. lovely open space too - ideal for wii tennis.

Maybe they could have a tournament to celebrate the opening? Does anyone know if there will be some formal opening ceremony with "famous people"?

Haru

deRanged wrote: »

I checked out one of the small lecture theaters this morning. fair play if ye can sleep there.

Ah you never know what can happen on a monday morning or when rooms are over heated...

Might be hard to sleep without getting caught though.

The building looks really good imo. Damn those "computer geeks", so lucky !

deRanged

Sepulchrave wrote: »

I thought the department was €1.5 million (according to Derek Bridge, maybe I misheard) in debt?

it was - from what I've heard that's mostly fixed. though the entire university is still not looking financially healthy.

It did however seem kind of dark. Maybe they don't turn on so many lights at the weekend?

it's a 'smart' building - the lights turn themselves off automatically. as you walk down those dark corridors they light up. it's a pain in the ass in the offices - the light over my desk refuses to work at all.

Does anyone know if there will be some formal opening ceremony with "famous people"?

you can be sure that some politicians will be down for a photo op at some stage. I expect a minister at the very least. there was already a minister down for the turning of the sod a while ago.


the lab machines should be a hell of a lot faster - there's been a major overhaul of the networking and server setups. I expect good things.

Sepulchrave

That all sounds good deRanged thank you!

Hope they get someone in to fix the light above your desk!

siblers

I'm starting night classes in this building tomorrow, is it in the main UCC campus or somewhere else?

D'Agger

siblers wrote: »

I'm starting night classes in this building tomorrow, is it in the main UCC campus or somewhere else?

On Western Rd. - across from the AIB, next to Vic Mills

siblers

This may seem like a right daft question, but how do you get the barriers open in the carp park? Do you like swipre your student card?

Papa_Lazarou

siblers wrote: »

This may seem like a right daft question, but how do you get the barriers open in the carp park? Do you like swipre your student card?

You either press the intercom and give them a really really good reason why they should open it for you(but just being a student wont work) and yeah staff have a swipe thing for it. The car park isnt for students.

JohnyDarko

siblers wrote: »

This may seem like a right daft question, but how do you get the barriers open in the carp park? Do you like swipre your student card?

You have to be really... coy. :rolleyes:

You can drive in(and out) through the gap by the exit barrier and the bar meant to be stopping people driving out without paying or through some empty spaces if people haven't taken them, but that'd be immoral and probably illegal, so don't.

teddy b123

So staff have to pay the exit fee?

Also, does anyone know where i can find a photocopier in wgb, or even a scanner thats not in the departmental office?
i know a photocopying room exists in the building but security said its staff only

Papa_Lazarou

teddy b123 wrote: »

So staff have to pay the exit fee?

Also, does anyone know where i can find a photocopier in wgb, or even a scanner thats not in the departmental office?
i know a photocopying room exists in the building but security said its staff only

Im open to correction on this but the parking fee's only kick in after 7pm.

deRanged

Papa_Lazarou wrote: »

Im open to correction on this but the parking fee's only kick in after 7pm.

here's the correction

Parking in WGB always costs €2 - it's an exit charge. You have to be staff to come in during office hours, and we all pay to exit.
At weekends you can get in and out for free.

The new €2 exit charge in the evenings applies to car parks that didn't have the exit charge in the first place - like main campus or the geography building. Staff can use their swipe keys to get out of those car parks.

There are no public access photocopiers or scanners in the building that I'm aware of.

UpTheSlashers

deRanged wrote: »

At weekends you can get in and out for free.

Are students allowed park there at weekends and leave their car there for the week?

deRanged

UpTheSlashers wrote: »

Are students allowed park there at weekends and leave their car there for the week?

no.

ddubs

Did anyone else hear about the chinese lad who spent 4 months living in one of the unused rooms on the upper floors last year?

They only found out the morning after "the flood" when they went in the next morning to look at damage and there was this lad standing on the stairs.

He had a nice little set up apparently a blow up bed kettle n stuff. From what i heard he was in a bad way lookin for accomodation and kipped there one night and it took off from there.

Tissot

ddubs wrote: »

Did anyone else hear about the chinese lad who spent 4 months living in one of the unused rooms on the upper floors last year?

They only found out the morning after "the flood" when they went in the next morning to look at damage and there was this lad standing on the stairs.

He had a nice little set up apparently a blow up bed kettle n stuff. From what i heard he was in a bad way lookin for accomodation and kipped there one night and it took off from there.

Now that sounds like a large load of rubbish!

There has always been traffic on the upper floors. Maintenance men, security etc - would find it very hard to believe if they didn't come across this dude!

TanG411

Would be unreal though. Nice view from the very top I'd say.

teddy b123

and theres showers on the first floor :O

think im gonna get my accomodation in wgb next year, ive my eye on one of the empty offices on the ground floor.

sleepyescapade

where on the first floor are the showers? never saw them

teddy b123

Theyre in the corridor that has the maths science department

Lord Derpington

ddubs wrote: »

Did anyone else hear about the chinese lad who spent 4 months living in one of the unused rooms on the upper floors last year?

They only found out the morning after "the flood" when they went in the next morning to look at damage and there was this lad standing on the stairs.

He had a nice little set up apparently a blow up bed kettle n stuff. From what i heard he was in a bad way lookin for accomodation and kipped there one night and it took off from there.

That is bull, i was in the westgate from the day it opened to until September of this year and for 3months of that i was tracing lan cable in every room of the building (had to enter every room for cataloging pusposes and i can tell you its bullshit. Besides every room has sensors for alarms and its all armed at night.

The top floor even has an alarm at the moment if you try to enter it will go off, i know because i set it off.
Also the showers are not for use by students you have to be staff and they are swipe access from the building admin dep not the CS dept or maths.

deRanged

Larkin91 wrote: »

Would be unreal though. Nice view from the very top I'd say.

there is. I got up there while they were building it.


roof with a view by Brian Clayton, on Flickr

teddy b123

Also the showers are not for use by students you have to be staff and they are swipe access from the building admin dep not the CS dept or maths.

yeah i figured that, tried accessing it and got the multiple beeps of dissapointment

wonder is it ever used?

x43r0

teddy b123 wrote: »

yeah i figured that, tried accessing it and got the multiple beeps of dissapointment

wonder is it ever used?

As I understood the showers were part of the pharmacology Dept and were in place in the event of a chemical spill where people would need to wash asap

Lord Derpington

x43r0 wrote: »

As I understood the showers were part of the pharmacology Dept and were in place in the event of a chemical spill where people would need to wash asap

not quite, each lab has its own chemical shower in case of emergency which look something like this :



Those showers in the hall are just showers...

raah!

Does anyone know if any of the computer labs in the western gate are open during the weekend? I have alot of matlab back project to do and it would be crap if I walked all the 40 minute journey there to find it was closed

Eliot Rosewater

Yup, WGB (and all the labs) are open from 9am to 10:30pm Saturday and Sunday.

http://timetable.ucc.ie/openhours/westerngateway.htm

Maths and Computer Science folks seemingly have no lives. :pac: