£6 million Moray Life Science Centre takes shape
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MORAY’S £6 million life science centre is on track for a physical start to work in the spring of next year.
Computer images of how the new facility will look have been revealed, as the project moves towards the complete of detailed designs.
The joint project between Moray College and NHS Grampian will be an innovative partnership in the growing life science sector.
It will take around 18 months to construct the centre, which will be ready for use at the start of the academic year in 2013-14.
Bill Duncan, former assistant principal at Moray College, came out of retirement to spearhead the project.
Plans were approved last week by the college’s buildings committee, and Mr Duncan said the venture is progressing well.
"It has been exciting to be part of this project. Nowadays it is all about partnership-working, and organisations can’t always expect or be able to do things entirely on their own," he said.
Funding for the project has come from the college, NHS Grampian, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.
The life science centre, which will be built on the existing Moray College UHI campus in Elgin, will be on three floors.
The ground floor will include a 140-capacity conference facility, reception area and community hub.
New teaching classrooms and video conferencing facilities will be on the first floor.
And the second floor will comprise the specialist life science facilities, including a four bedded mock ward, training facilities for minor surgery, a rescusitation training centre, health and safety training and five research units.
"This will have benefits to the college, NHS Grampian, Moray Council who might use some of the space and the whole of Moray," added Mr Duncan.
The progress of the life science centre follows the announcement last week of a £4 million investment in a new life science business at the Forres Enterprise Park.
AccuNostics hopes to create around 30 jobs with the creation of a medical diagnostic research and production facility.
