Topic Health
Date 20 Sep 2024
Morrison Construction Building Central has hosted a topping out event for the Health Innovation Hub project in Glasgow.
The life science facility is being created on behalf Kadans Science Partner, in collaboration with The Living Laboratory, a partnership made up of the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council.
Dignitaries from the partners attended the ceremony to celebrate the new building reaching its highest point.
When complete, the site will provide 87,000 sqft of state-of-the-art flexible laboratory and office space for up to 450 people. With facilities available from 1,700 sqft, life sciences businesses of varying sizes, from university spinouts to more established operations, will be able to make full use of the industry-leading amenities.
The first tenant will be the new Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL), which is a partnership between the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, that provides essential infrastructure and expertise to evaluate digital health technologies for clinical use.
Katie Nelson, Head of Leasing, UK & Ireland for Kadans, said: “This is an exciting milestone on the journey to create a truly world-class precision medicine facility. The Health Innovation Hub will help to position Glasgow as a global leader in the key area of precision medicine.
“The progress made since we first broke ground last year has been incredible. A special thanks go to our construction partner Morrison Construction and wider teams who have worked tirelessly to reach this important milestone. Work will now focus to create over 87,000 sqft of state-of-the-art lab and office space. We are excited to bring new and exciting innovation businesses to this new facility.
“We’re immensely proud to be collaborating with The Living Laboratory and their partners the University of Glasgow, as well as Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council. All partners share the same vision, to support the creation of a thriving life sciences cluster in Glasgow and reinforce the city’s reputation as a place to thrive and grow. We look forward to engaging and building relationships with prospective tenants over the coming months.”
Uzma Khan, Vice Principal for Economic Development and Innovation and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the University of Glasgow, said: “Today marks the completion of another key milestone in the construction of an exciting, novel and flagship asset within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.
“The Health Innovation Hub project is a symbol of our ambition to expand Govan and Glasgow’s thriving life sciences cluster. With the support of our partners in Kadans Science Partner and Scottish Enterprise, we can continue to generate impact in the community and deliver on our University’s mission as a civic institution.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the project’s significant employment and economic benefits are enjoyed locally and shared across the wider City region.”
Dr Ruth McLaughlin, Programme Director for the Living Laboratory programme, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in the development of the Health Innovation Hub. As a cornerstone of the Living Laboratory programme, the Health Innovation Hub will be instrumental in strengthening Glasgow’s position as a global leader in healthcare innovation.
“With its world-class facilities and vibrant ecosystem that brings together industry, academia, the NHS and the local community, HiH is expected to deliver tangible benefits right here in Govan, while also pioneering solutions to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges faced nationally and globally.”
David Ewing, Managing Director for Morrison Construction Building Central, commented: “We are making good progress on what will be a fantastic facility for the healthcare sector within the region. We look forward to working with all the stakeholders involved to complete this project and deliver a real landmark for all concerned.”