Issue 155

ILS near completion

08th May 2007

The newest addition to Swansea University's campus is the new Institute of Life Science building. The £12.5 million building will be home to the School of Medicine's medical research enterprise, along with several business development and support staff. The building is to be finished on Monday 14 May, and research teams will move in during May and June.

Sian Newman, Communications Officer for the School of Science says, "The Institute of Life Science is born out of the success of the School of Medicine. Swansea's School of Medicine is growing rapidly and a dedicated medical research building was required in order to provide the facilities needed to accommodate the professors and their research teams."

The Institute of Life Science, (ILS), began construction in November 2005 and the build is scheduled to finish in May 2007. The ILS building will have six floors with state-of-the-art laboratories, a dedicated business support centre, business development space and a relaxed café area. The building will also be environmentally healthier than most buildings with its modern geo-thermal heating, using the earth's temperature, therefore saving money and energy.

The ILS building's first tenants, Alliance Boots plc were confirmed earlier this year. They plan to establish their Centre for Innovation at the ILS, described as a "real-life Dragon's Den for the medical sector", along with a capital fund together with the centre to fund projects and ideas.

Newman further adds, "The Institute of Life Science should have a very positive effect on the university. It visibly demonstrates significant development on the campus, which is a positive sign of healthy growth for existing and prospective students."

The building will have an official opening ceremony with a preliminary date of Thursday 20 September, but is subject to change.

Natalie Kow