Relocation of University of Oxford undergraduate physics practical teaching from the Denys Wilkinson Building due to asbestos concerns
Around 600 physics undergraduates at the University of Oxford will be soon moved, starting this autumn, from a famous, old campus where their physics laboratories were located so far, as safety concerns about asbestos spread across the university.
Located on Banbury Road, the building in question refers to the Denys Wilkinson Building that dates back to 1967. Like many other buildings built during the 1960s, one of the composite materials is asbestos, a rather popular material for a period decades ago that, if damaged or broken down, is now known to be harmful.
Although the university directorate declared the building as perfectly safe for use right now and reassured that the air is regularly tested in case of any health hazards, they are also aware of its near end capacities and decided to relocate the students earlier rather than wait for something to break and cause a sudden subsequent emergency.
Since around 600 students need to be moved, the relocation happens steadily starting this year’s remaining semester with half of the physics classes, the rest evacuating the Denys Wilkinson Building by 2027.
In order to make it work, the university is transforming, quite in a rush, an old biology building into physics laboratories for the awaiting new term to start in October.
Opinions on this relocation matter seem to be rather split as some see this move as a bit of an inconvenience while the university tries to avoid putting its students in danger.
