The Hospital’s new core research laboratory dedicated solely to translational medicine is provided with 5 floors of laboratory furniture that will be delivered and installed by ASSAB as part of the contract. ASSAB is a specialist division of Morris and Spottiswood, Scotland’s leading fit-out, housing and maintenance providers.
ASSAB’s business unit head, Jane Finnigan, said, “Our team feel very proud that they have been involved in the building of what is destined to be a pioneering centre of medical excellence which will help the development of new drugs in the battle against cancer and other serious illnesses.”
“We manufactured, supplied and installed all the laboratory benching, sinks, cupboards, shelving for the five storey research building. The peninsular bench units were highly specialised with 3 tier adjustable shelving above either side and a stainless steel sink at the end of the peninsular with an integral splashback. The underbench cupboards were constructed to be mobile on castors for ease of movement around the laboratories.Finnigan added, 'It was a challenging project given the site’s topography which meant the new building had to be accessed from the existing 5th floor of the adjacent building which severely restricted our access for deliveries.'
One of the world largest pharmaceutical companies, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc and Scotland leading medical research centres at Universities in Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow have been brought together by The Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC). This unique venture allows these organisations to collaborate in the development of personalised medicine bringing new treatments to patients suffering from a range of serious illnesses. Translational medicine is a revolutionary approach to developing new drugs and treatments, focusing on new tests for the diagnosis and monitoring of human diseases. This new research laboratory will initially create 50 new jobs.
The contract saw the collaboration of ASSAB, main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and Glasgow Architects, Boswell, Mitchell and Johnston. The companies have previously worked together on a number of contracts including the University of Glasgow Bower Building, the Cardiovascular and Biomedical Building, and the University of St Andrews.
ASSAB previously worked on the successful completion of works at the new pathological sciences laboratories incorporating the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow.
The £180k project at Gartnavel Hospital included the supply, delivery and installation of three floors of new laboratory furniture, new laboratory services as well as the research centre. This new build project, also contained a link corridor and the refurbishment of an existing laboratory in the adjoining Blood Transfusion building, which was still actively being used whilst installation was taking place. The project formed part of a series of major improvements taking place at the Gartnavel site to ensure that it remains one of Glasgow’s key locations for medical care in the years ahead. The production of these new medical facilities has kick started The Translational Medicine Research Collaboration's aim of the initiative to develop a world leading network of clinical and scientific excellence throughout Scotland.
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