Ensuring that AUC’s relocation to the new campus runs smoothly has been his primary concern for the past two years. “I don’t sleep very well at night because I am always thinking about how to deal with things with maximum efficiency, flexibility and minimum problems,” says Engineer Mohamed Abdel Gawad, AUC’s senior advisor, campus transition, who has been overseeing and managing the upcoming move since 2005.
“This is a massive move,” explains Gawad. In fact, the sheer numbers are impressive.
AUC’s relocation from downtown to New Cairo, scheduled for this summer, will include some 30,000 to 40,000 carton boxes from 1150 office spaces, 5000 computers and heavy equipment, and over 350,000 books.
Every morning, at the meeting table of his office, as he studies the large, rolled out, color-coded floor plans of the new campus buildings, Gawad carefully checks the latest data and requirements provided by the various departments against the allocated office spaces and necessary facilities on the new campus.
“We will be moving between June 1 and July 30, working around the clock, ” notes Gawad, adding that some exceptions will be made for August in order to accommodate those that will be teaching and working during the summer session.
Despite the anticipated inevitable surprises that could complicate his already tight transition schedule, Gawad acknowledges that traffic restrictions imposed for security reasons in downtown Cairo cause one of the biggest strains on this vast logistical operation. “Trucks are not allowed to circulate around Tahrer during the day which means that we will only be allowed to move between 11 pm and 6 am,” says Gawad.
The relocation of the downtown offices will be carried out by building and by floor, not by department says Gawad. Staff and faculty will be provided with boxes and requested to pack their own office belongings. Electronic equipment, however, such as computers, photocopy machines, printers, fax machines, and scanners, will be packed separately by AUC. "We hope offices will be operational a week after they are relocated," notes Gawad.
“What is essential in order to secure a successful move is not only very good organization but also commitment and cooperation on everybody’s part,” explains Gawad.
Moving and transporting some of AUC’s sensitive equipment and valuable materials to the new campus will require special safety measures, as for example the hazardous materials, the delicate nanotechnology research equipment and the priceless volumes of the Rare Books and Special Collections Library.
An Ain Shams graduate from the Faculty of Engineering, Gawad started with AUC as a contractor in 1966 and was appointed assistant chief engineer in 1973, and later promoted to chief engineer. Prior to AUC, he worked for General Organization for Industrialization (GOFI), a major government industrial development organization, overseeing the building of industrial projects.
“I have previously been in charge of major projects on the construction side but also on the operations side, ” says Gawad with his characteristic poised demeanor. In fact, over the past 34 years with AUC, Gawad headed or participated in the construction of the old and new Falaki buildings, the Jameel Center, the main library and the Zamalek dormitories.
“Because all the facilities on the new campus will be standardized and computerized, operating the new campus in a way will be different than operating the old one,” adds Gawad. “This basically means we will have more facilities and less problems.”
Reflecting on the challenges he has had to face at the downtown campus, Gawad says: “Some of the buildings are over a hundred years old, the door hinges and common locks vary between a hundred different types, and the subsoil water problems require that pumps run around the clock in order to maintain the water table level below that of AUC’s basements.
Eager to acknowledge the work and contribution of his entire team, Gawad remarks: “I am confident that we will do a professional job and move on time.”
