The foundation stone is laid today at Queen’s University Belfast’s new £39m School of Biological Sciences, which is being built by O’Hare & McGovern.

Above: CGI of the new building

The new faculty is being built at Chlorine Gardens in Belfast and is scheduled to open in August 2018.

Vice-chancellor Patrick Johnston said: “Today is a momentous occasion for the life sciences and agri-food sectors here in Northern Ireland, and further afield. Queen’s new School of Biological Sciences will be a power-house for these sectors, both of which have been identified as cornerstones of Northern Ireland’s future prosperity.”

The 11,000m² school is the latest building in Queen’s £700m 20-year capital investment programme. Set over five floors, it is designed around a central glazed atrium and will incorporate carbon reduction technologies including a combined heat and power engine, ventilation heat recovery units and a ground source heat pump system. It has been designed for a BREEAM Excellent rating. Project architect is Scott Tallon Walker.

This is the 14th project that Newry-based O’Hare & McGovern has delivered for Queen’s. The first scheme was completed in August 1989 and it recently built the university’s Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine.

Managing director Eamon O’Hare said: “Our vision for the delivery of this project is to create a catalyst for social, economic and environmental change, providing sustainable employment for local businesses, students, apprentices and long-term unemployed.”

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