plant science research building
AN important milestone in the construction of a major new research facility for the University of Cambridge has been marked with a topping out ceremony.
The Sainsbury Laboratory, set to house 120 scientists studying plant development, has been made possible by an £82 million gift from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, founded by Lord Sainsbury (pictured above). This is the largest single gift received by the University since the launch of the 800th Anniversary Campaign.
The topping out ceremony traditionally marks the completion of the outer structure of a new building. Nearly 100 guests gathered at the site to hear speeches from Roy Murphy, Director of Kier Regional, the main contractor, Professor Ian Leslie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor John Parker, Director of the Botanic Garden where the building is sited, and Lord Sainsbury.
“This is one of the most exciting projects with which my charitable foundation has been involved,” Lord Sainsbury said. “It combines an inspirational research programme, an historic site, and a beautiful laboratory designed by Stanton Williams, and it will become a centre of excellence in plant science.”
John Parker said: “The Garden looks forward to maintaining its long tradition of the study of plant diversity in the most up-to-date way with this wonderful building. The Laboratory will be dedicated to the advancement of curiosity-driven research on plants.”
Ian Leslie congratulated the architects, Kier and the whole project team for the fact that the construction was on budget and on schedule. He highlighted the significance of the building saying: “It is particularly pleasing to see this substantial investment being made in fundamental research. While the applications of the knowledge that is created here is far in the future and, by the nature of fundamental enquiry, unpredictable, I have no doubt that it will have enormous impact on food security and the preservation of biodiversity.”
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