News Archive

Health and Life Sciences Topping Out Ceremony

The completion of the external structure of the Health and Life Sciences Building was marked with a Topping Out Ceremony on 3 June. The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Robert Van de Noort and some of those who have had a key role in the project: Janis Pich, Head of Estates, Graham Luke, Technical Head of Teaching and Research Development and Amanda Callaghan, curator of the Cole Museum. The School of Biological Sciences was represented by Director of Teaching and Learning for the School, Phil Dash and Technical Head Andrew Cripps.

Project lead for Balfour Beatty, Jeff Carter, gave an overview of the project to date including key statistic. He also spoke about the involvement the School of Built Environment students have had with the project, which extends to supporting four MSc students with their dissertations. After this the guests went to the site, which was a first visit for the Vice-Chancellor to the new building. The Vice-Chancellor said:

“It’s a very impressive building. It’s much bigger inside than it looks from outside, colleagues and students will very much enjoy the new facilities. Importantly the building not only ties together research and teaching and learning in the School but includes the cultural element of the Cole Museum on the ground floor.”

Following the tour guests all signed the inside of the external wall in what will become the Head of School’s office. This, like much of the work, won’t be visible in the completed building but we’ll know it’s there all the same.

Thanks to Balfour Beatty for hosting us with hands on help from Jack Brett and George Dear and to Aleiah Potter and Jenny Beelders from the Events Team for organising the ceremony.