Spotlight on Justine Fletcher

This week the spotlight is on Justine Fletcher, Estates Strategy Manager, UCL Estates.

What is your role and what does it involve?

My current role is Estates Strategy Manager, reporting to the Deputy Director of Estates. There are four of us and I'm aligned with the BEAMS School and work with the deans, faculty managers, HoDs and academics to help them to manage their space and ensure that we have a forward-looking view of their estate requirements.

In addition to working with BEAMS, I am also leading on the new Student Centre (see below) and I also work closely with UCLU on some of their projects.

My job entails understanding requirements for new projects, ensuring that the briefs are appropriate and bringing the project to life through the design development process. We also ensure that the project is deliverable within the current capital programme and gains all of the UCL and statutory approvals.

It's a difficult ask to always manage requirements against the constraints of the estate and the nature of the buildings that we occupy, while ensuring that projects can be delivered safely. The fact that we are also growing as a university, with limited opportunities to increase our total space, means that it is not an easy job.

We do spend a lot of time out and about in the community and we walk a lot of miles a week around the campus.

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I've been at UCL for three and a half years and have worked on a range of projects. Previously, I was at the Natural History Museum delivering their capital projects (and I do think Dippy should stay in Central Hall!!).

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Too many to mention, but here at UCL, I've been lucky enough to work on Wates House (which also involved creating a new temporary School of Architecture in 132 Hampstead Road), Kathleen Lonsdale Building, Central House and 1 Euston Sq, to name but a few, plus the new Student Centre.

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of you to-do list?

I am lucky enough to be leading on the New Student Centre project, which will really demonstrate UCL's commitment to students and provide world-class facilities that can only enhance the student experience. We want the building to be truly student focused, accessible and inclusive to all while, at the same time, reflecting the diversity of all the building users.

We are aiming to create 1,000 new learning spaces (which are much needed here in Bloomsbury) and a Student Enquiries Centre. It's a really exciting project and the proposed scheme is now taking shape; however, we still have a huge amount of work to complete before we take the full scheme forward to London Borough of Camden for planning approval.

It's a new build project and will fill the last piece of land we have between the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre and 26 Gordon Square. We plan to start on site in November this year and will begin by sorting out the project interfaces before we start on the main construction project. Exciting times!

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

Album - I hate to say this, but I don't really listen to any music any more as I listen to audiobooks all of the time (too lazy to read!). But in my days of listening to music, I was a fan of Bowie, The Doors and hardcore techno….

Film - I have two favourite films that are actually complete opposites of each other. The first is Top Gun (I have now lost all my street cred), as this film was the epic of my youth and I could never make up my mind if I was Maverick or Ice Man. Plus, I rather liked some of the beach sports!

Bladerunner has to be mentioned as it's based on one of Philip K. Dick's best books (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). Rutger Hauer's final speech is one of the classics.

Novel - The Martian by Andy Weir, which is really incredible. I'm a contemporary sci-fi fan(atic), but this will appeal to everyone. Read it before they make a film out of it.

A really gripping read (or listen in my case) and you will be on the edge of your seat till the end. I think if they do this film well, it could become my favourite film.

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?

None of my jokes are pre-watershed…..

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Anyone that can cook well as I am truly the most appalling cook. However, I am currently obsessed with my Nutri Ninja and dinner is often a spinach-based shake of some kind, which grosses a lot of people out but I am addicted to them!

However, if Mav and Ice Man wanted to come over for a spinach shake and some high fiving over Top Gun, I wouldn't complain.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I probably wouldn't, as life should be a learning journey and there isn't a trick to getting it right all of the time. I would, however, say spend as much time as you can with your parents while you can.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I was brought up in the Middle East and learnt to ski just outside Tehran. Oh and that I am actually a very quiet person at home (really!!).

What is your favourite place?

I have to admit that Miami is my favourite city - great food, fab art deco buildings, air boats over the glades and great, great shopping. But any place where you can relax with a Kindle and lots of sun has to be good.