Designs for world-leading research centre submitted

The £89 million Technology and Innovation Centre at Strathclyde (TIC) will bring together 850 academics, researchers and project managers from the University and its industrial partners to find solutions to challenges which are central to international impact and economic growth.

The joint planning application for the Centre, and Scottish Enterprise’s neighbouring Industry Engagement Building on George Street, was submitted to the Council this week after consultation with staff, students and the community.

Professor Jim McDonald, Principal of the University, said: “The Technology and Innovation Centre is designed to transform the way universities, business and industry collaborate to bring global competitive advantage to Scotland. Its initial focus for multi-disciplinary research and postgraduate development will be on low carbon technologies, sensors and photonics, bio-nano systems and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

“We’ve had tremendous support and feedback from staff, students and the community, whose ideas have played an integral part in the design process. I’d like to put on record my thanks to everyone who has contributed their time and energy to helping develop plans for an inspiring, welcoming and strategically important building for the city.”

The landmark, 22,000 square metres building – the equivalent floor space of around three football pitches - has been developed with low carbon principles to the fore, and its transparent design will help it become a gateway between the Merchant City and City Centre.

Around 50 per cent of the building will be glazed, helping to bring together the University and community. It will include state-of-the-art specialist and flexible research space, a world-class conferencing and event facility and exhibition space. A central atrium will allow natural light to flood every level of the building.

The TIC building will sit next to Scottish Enterprise’s Industry Engagement Building, enabling innovative companies to co-locate with TIC and access the University’s leading research expertise. Both buildings are part of Scotland’s new International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ).

Neil Francis, Sector Delivery Director, Scottish Enterprise, said: “The International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone is key to our ambitions to position Glasgow and Scotland at the heart of global green energy developments.

“Glasgow has already attracted a number of well-established companies in the offshore wind sector, and our investment in the TIC and our Industry Engagement Building will help drive the co-location of industry and academia and reinforce the city’s reputation as the location for the expanding renewables industry."

The Industry Engagement Building is expected to have a floor area in the region of 4,800 Square metres with space for around 500 occupants over five storeys. Like TIC, the Industry Engagement Building will be highly sustainable.

At £89 million, TIC is the University’s single-biggest investment in research capacity and has attracted financial backing from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council. Its founding partners are SSE, ScottishPower and the Weir Group.

Colin Hood, Chair of TIC’s Industry Advisory Board and Chief Operating Officer for SSE, said: “Today’s news marks an important milestone for the Technology and Innovation Centre. We are pleased to see the pace and progress of research programmes being developed to meet the needs of TIC’s partners – work which is already helping to attract interest from new companies.”

If planning permission is granted, enabling works will begin on site from January 2012, with the official opening taking place in 2014.