New £39m biological department to be built

Queen’s University Belfast has unveiled the foundation stone for its £39m Biological Sciences School.

The School, to be completed in 2018, will be used to drive development and growth of the life sciences and agri-food sectors in Northern Ireland. Currently this sector employs 80,000 people and creates more than £5.5bn in sales every year.

Professor Patrick Johnston, President at Queen’s University said: “This is a momentous occasion for the life sciences and agri-food sectors here in Northern Ireland, and further afield. Queen’s new School of Biological Sciences will be a power-house for these sectors, both of which have been identified as cornerstones of Northern Ireland’s future prosperity.

“From food safety to disease and infection control, the work housed in our new School will not only be of global significance and importance, it will also impact positively on everyone’s lives here in Northern Ireland.”

The building will provide research and training facilities for 750 students and 170 staff members. The 11,000m² school is part of the University’s £700m 20 year capital investment programme. It’s designed to have five floors around a central glazed atrium, with carbon reduction technologies installed such as a combined heat and power engine and ventilation heat recovery units.

Professor Aaron Maule, head of the School of Biological Sciences said: “This new building will ensure we attract the best staff and students from Northern Ireland and around the world, and continue to produce graduates who are making a real and lasting impact in fields as diverse as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food science, infectious diseases, marine sustainability and environmental management.”