Todd Architects

The University’s School of Pharmacy, one of its premier departments, was awarded a research grant by the Allen J McClay Trust to enable the provision of this high quality research facility. The chosen site is enclosed on three sides by existing buildings, mitigating against the client’s aspirations for a light and open building. Our response has been to introduce a top lit vertical street bringing natural light into the deep plan laboratories and animating activity within the building. The restricted budget demanded close attention to the choice of external walling materials. The cost of curtain walling to laboratories and entrance staircases is offset through the incorporation of ‘industrial’ cladding and masonry wall panels in other areas. A value engineering exercise carried out during the early stages of the design process, proved beneficial in focusing the entire team on priorities within the project.

• Client
• The Queen's University of Belfast
• Location
• Medical Biology Centre, Belfast
• Role
• Lead Consultant & Architect
• Nature of Project
• New Pharamceutical Research Facility for the School of Pharmacy
• Contract Value
• £2.3m / IR£2.9m / €3.7m
• Stage Complete
• Design Start : September 1999 Completion : October 2001

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