The University of Oxford and Legal & General have received planning permission for The University of Oxford’s new £200 million life sciences building project, the Life and Mind Building.
Legal & General entered into a £4bn partnership with the University of Oxford in June 2019, forming Oxford University Development (OUD) in order to provide thousands of new homes for staff and students, as well a number of innovation facilities.
The Life and Mind Building, which forms the first landmark project for the OUD partnership is due to open in 2024. It replaces the Tinbergen Building which closed in February 2017.
Designed by internationally renowned architect practice NBBJ, the building will house the departments of experimental psychology and biology, including plant sciences and zoology.
”With a project cost of £200m and a gross internal area of 269,097 sq ft, it will provide research facilities to 800 students and 1,200 researchers,” said Legal & General in a statement.
Read Also : L&G announces £200m funding of Oxford University innovation centre
”We are extremely proud to be bringing forward the OUD’s first building project which, in the wake of COVID-19, will help retain talent in the city, whilst driving essential inward investment and providing opportunities for world-leading innovation. The Life and Mind Building is using architecture and design to bring together key scientific disciplines and promote greater understanding. When complete, it will provide students with a modern, state-of-the-art facility that helps continue the University of Oxford’s legacy as one of the world’s most pre-eminent teaching institutions,” said Anna Strongman, Chief Executive of Oxford University Development.
”We are delighted that Oxford City Council has approved the planning application for the new Life and Mind Building. The university, in partnership with Legal & General, looks forward to the commencement of construction of the building in the summer, which will be undertaken by Wates. There is no doubt that the building, which has been exceptionally well designed, will provide world class innovative research and teaching facilities for the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology enabling them to study the full breadth of life on earth,” said Professor Chris Kennard, the University of Oxford’s Senior Responsible Owner for the project.
