Imperial College Research and Translation Hub, London Education, England Architecture
Imperial College Research and Translation Hub, London
Exhibition Road University Building – design by PLP Architecture
7 Aug 2014
Imperial College Building
Design: PLP Architecture
Location: Exhibition Road, London, England
Voreda and Imperial College London exchange on £200 million Research and Translation Hub
Voreda – the London-based real estate development and investment company – has exchanged contracts with Imperial College London to deliver a major research and translation centre – adding further critical infrastructure to support London as a location for world class research and commerce.
The £200 million Research and Translation Hub will form the centrepiece of the new Imperial West innovation district in White City, west London. The 48,000 sq m Hub will deliver world-class education, research and translation activities, and foster partnerships with global stakeholders from business, industry, higher education and the NHS.
Voreda has secured a £73.0 million development and investment facility from Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking for the 23,000 sq m translation centre. Imperial College London was awarded £35 million by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) towards the development of the adjacent 25,000 sqm research centre in November 2012. The buildings, which form the Research and Translation Hub, will be completed in summer 2016.
Incorporating 50 new scalable units for university and industry spinouts and new ventures, the translation centre will serve the needs of London’s growing enterprise community. It will be run by Imperial College ThinkSpace – a dedicated team that works with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to provide innovative, high quality workspaces and relocation support. The Hub will have an emphasis on linking research and commerce to benefit society and the global economy. Businesses and other world-class universities will have the opportunity to drive innovation through co-location and collaboration. The Hub will also provide high specification, multidisciplinary research space for 1,000 next generation scientists and engineers.
Laing O’Rourke has been appointed by Voreda to act as its construction delivery partner on the development. Construction will start in September and will use Laing O’Rourke’s expertise in manufacturing components off site to minimise disruption to the busy surrounding area.
Steve Dykes, one of the co-founders of Voreda, said:
“Having worked in partnership with Imperial College London since 2009 to successfully deliver GradPad Wood Lane Studios at Imperial West, we are thrilled to have secured the next phase of the project. Imperial’s vision is exemplary and we are honoured to be working with one of the world’s leading research institutions. We are committed to delivering their vision and to make Imperial West the destination for innovation and entrepreneurship in London”.
Professor David Gann CBE, Vice-President (Development & Innovation) at Imperial College London, said:
“Imperial West’s Research and Translation Hub provides the physical environment to enable world-class research and knowledge transfer at scale – driving innovation and growth. Working with our partners at Voreda, Laing O’Rourke and Santander, we are delivering the next phase in the development of Imperial West: London’s new innovation district. With the capacity to generate and sustain 1,000’s of jobs, this project represents an important investment in the future of Imperial in White City and the capital as a whole.
“Imperial West already hosts scores of innovative spin-outs and start-ups, and is highly connected to London’s TechCity and MedCity ecosystems. The Research and Translation Hub allows us to take this to the next level. Other major new facilities will follow on as our vision for Imperial West comes to fruition.”
Suzy Verma, Head of Education, Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking, said:
“We are extremely delighted to be working once again with both Imperial and Voreda to help deliver this iconic building, which will aid the delivery of world class research and innovation. Santander is committed to helping UK companies grow and prosper and the continued investment in White City will create jobs, attract inward investment as well as aid economic recovery.”
Laing O’Rourke Leader for Construction UK Steve Coleby said:
“We are delighted to be working with Voreda and at Imperial College London on a development of such significance for research and business in the UK. Laing O’Rourke’s innovative approach to manufacturing and construction techniques along with our direct delivery capability serves as a fantastic complement to the schemes overall vision for being a world-class innovation hub. Collaboration, professionalism and attention to detail have been at the heart of the tender process and we now look forward to taking this approach through to the delivery phase.”
Michael Faulkner, Director at PLP Architecture, commented:
“The design meets a demanding brief which calls for a state-of-the-art building to foster the exchange of ideas, and adapt to changing patterns of scientific enquiry, market demands and future tenants. We look forward to working with both Imperial College London and Voreda to deliver the future home of new and exciting employment opportunities, which will also play a critical role in the area’s regeneration.”
Imperial College Research and Translation Hub information / images received from PLP Architecture
Location: Imperial College, London, England, UK
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Imperial College London (legally The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university located in London, England which specialises in science, engineering, medicine and business. A former constituent college of the federal University of London, it became fully independent on 9 July 2007 as part of the celebrations of its centenary. Imperial has grown through mergers, including with St Mary’s Hospital Medical School (in 1988), the National Heart and Lung Institute (in 1995) and the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School (in 1997). Imperial College Business School was established in 2003.
Imperial’s main campus is located in the South Kensington (Albertopolis) area of Central London, with additional campuses in Chelsea, Hammersmith, Paddington, Silwood Park and Wye College. Imperial also operates the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore in partnership with Nanyang Technological University. Imperial has one of the largest estates of any higher education institution in the UK. Imperial is organised into four main faculties within which there are over 40 departments, institutes and research centres. Imperial has around 13,500 students and 3,330 academic and research staff and had a total income of £822 million in 2012/13, of which £329.5 million was from research grants and contracts.
Source: wikipedia
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