David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, led a ‘topping-out’ ceremony on 24th October, marking a milestone in the progress of the construction of the IAH’s new £100M+ high containment laboratory. The building has reached its maximum height, just a year after construction started, led by Shepherd Construction Ltd., and funded by BBSRC and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
The new laboratory complex is designed for 150+ scientists and others to work on some of the world’s most devastating livestock and poultry viruses, such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza.
Prof. John Fazakerley, Director of IAH, said “This new building is part of an ambitious vision for the Institute, which will provide our world-class researchers with unrivalled facilities to take forward their research into some of the most economically and socially important viruses on the planet.” “The facility,” he continued, “includes brand-new and improved approaches to high containment.”
BBSRC's Chief Executive, Prof. Doug Kell, remarked that the new laboratory was a major but not the only step in the redevelopment of Pirbright Laboratory; additional facilities were planned for avian and other research, plus an innovation centre for the translation of research into disease control products.
The speakers then signed a steel beam that would be incorporated into the building, as did members of the Institute and Shepherd Construction.
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| David Willetts (on right) and Doug Kell (on left), with Michael Johnson in the background. | Outside the new building | David Willetts (on left) and Tom Blundell, Chairman of the BBSRC (on right). |
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| David Willetts on the left. | Mike Johnson (left) talking to David Willetts (right). |