The four consortium partners behind the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) - the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and UCL (University College London) - plan to create an internationally renowned science facility on 3.6 acres of land at Brill Place, behind the British Library in the Somers Town/King's Cross area of central London. The consortium has selected architects HOK as the preferred bidder to work with them on this project, subject to a period of contract finalisation.
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The detailed design requirements of the facility and the science to be conducted inside are being discussed by an expert committee chaired by the Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse.
Sir Paul said: "HOK will play an important role in helping us to create a building that will attract the world's best scientists to the UK. This country is already a leader in medical research - this project plays a fundamental role in our ambition to consolidate and build on that position. We want a building that will help our scientists work with experts from different disciplines, from centres of excellence across the country and the world, to make a tremendous difference to our understanding of human disease."
Andrew Barraclough, Director at HOK said: "We are delighted to have been selected by UKCMRI to create an environment in which scientists can collaborate and realise paradigm shifting medical breakthroughs. This facility has the potential to have an extraordinary impact on the wellbeing of our global population. Our goal is to create an intelligent and memorable building - one which works, and delivers the benefits of research and innovation to the patient."
Subject to planning consent, the final building should be completed by 2014 and will house 1,500 staff.
(CD/JM)
