Topping out ceremony for new
Oxford research facility
22 June 2010
Completion of main construction stage for Nightingale Associates and Make’s Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute marked by topping out ceremony.
A topping out ceremony carried out by the vice-chancellor of Oxford University marks the completion of the main stage of construction for the new Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute (OMPI) at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.
The £23 million, 5,750sqm research facility was designed jointly by Nightingale Associates and Make Architects for the University of Oxford and will deliver much needed flexible laboratory spaces and new computer services to the University, providing state-of-the-art accommodation to attract the highest caliber of staff and students.
“This new building for Oxford University will add a vital research facility to the University and help it to remain at the top of the tree in terms of scientific research provision.”
Adrian Gainer, Practice Science Lead, Nightingale Associates
Adjoining the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, the contemporary new building replaces an existing block to the north-west of the Pevsner-listed, Dunn School. It has been sensitively designed to provide a calm and respectful counterpoint to the William-and-Mary style of the school. Responding to its historic neighbour, it will offer a modern interpretation of the external detailing such as the cornices and plinths while the horizontal expression on the facades, the windows and the materials have all been selected to echo the details of the original building.
“Far from resting on its laurels, the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology is carrying out crucial research for the 21st century. Rightly famous for its history and the development of penicillin, this new building will be an important part of the Dunn School’s continuing drive to understand diseases and the responses of the body’s immune system for the improvement of the future provision of healthcare.”
Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
“The new Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute will offer fantastic facilities for carrying out front-line research into the causes of diseases such as cancer, HIV, flu, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
“It’s been exciting to see the building go up knowing the first-class environment for science it will provide. It will enable work that could lead to new treatments or preventative measures for these conditions in the future.”
Herman Waldmann, Head of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
“After completing the Old Road Campus building for the University of Oxford, it is a real privilege to return to design a second state-of-the-art facility for the University. The building will complement and respond to its setting yet still provide a modern and contemporary structure benefitting a high tech interior.”
Justin Nicholls, Architect and Partner, Make
Nightingale Associates and Make collaborated previously on the Old Road Campus Research Building for the University of Oxford which was completed in 2007 and acted as an exemplar for modern laboratory facilities, bringing together several different disciplines of cancer research and enabling them to interact and collaborate.
OMPI is due to be completed in early 2011. The topping out ceremony took place on 27th May 2010.
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