The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine (WWIEM) at Queen's has won both the prestigious Project of the Year award and Design Trough Innovation accolade at the 2016 RICS Northern Ireland awards.

The Project of the Year award and The Design through Innovation award, which recognises the use of outstanding innovation in designing a project, were presented to Turner & Townsend for their work on behalf of Queen's at the RICS event in Belfast.

The WWIEM is an interdisciplinary research facility, the latest phase in the development of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's and has been designed to enhance its internationally recognised excellence in research. It includes biomedical research laboratories, secondary laboratory space, office accommodation and cold storage.

Commenting on the awards, Damien Toner, Queen's Director of Estates, said: "This landmark project underpins the University’s world class ambition and represents a strategically important addition to the estate portfolio. The open and free-flow design of the building offers a positive change in the working environment, which enhances the development of cross-disciplinary collaborations and interactions between peer research groups."

Specific innovations within the building, include laboratories and offices being organised around a central atrium, providing excellent visual links through the building and encouraging collaboration between Queen's scientists.

Innovative technology has also been used in an inventive and visionary way. The building’s major services have been strategically moved to the perimeter, external to the labs, allowing total adaptability in future layouts. In addition, the extensive use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) allowed for intricate design detailing and major fabrication off site, which was a key element of the delivery strategy, reducing waste significantly.

In praising the design, the judges said: “This is a high-quality building housing laboratories, offices and meeting rooms for this international research organisation. The innovative nature of the building, means it has been designed on an ‘inside-out’ basis, conducive to collaborative working. The building is finished to a very high standard.”

Colm Lavery, Director at Turner & Townsend Belfast, added: “We are delighted that this project has won these awards and are very proud of our role in the Institute and of the relationship we were able to cultivate with Queen’s University Belfast while doing it. The Institute is a great testament to the role Queen’s place on research and innovation and Turner & Townsend along with the wider design team are proud to have assisted in its delivery.”

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