The Sheppard Robson designed Michael Smith Building offers flexible laboratory and write-up spaces, with specialist support laboratories located in hubs throughout the building. A constantly developing area of life sciences, cell biology requires accommodation that can be adapted to meet changing research needs, and provide the best environment for interdisciplinary collaboration. The final phase of the building uses four anodised finishes to create a range of mirror-polished and highly etched aluminium tiles. A random pattern was devised to ensure the different finishes were distributed across the elevation to give a cohesive façade. The metallic patchwork of 7,500 tiles, covering 1,500m², shimmer in the changing light. The fourth phase of development incorporated the provision of a specialist Microscopy unit and accommodation for a £1.5m Electron Microscope suite.

 

The final construction stage will allow the bio-sciences faculty to extend their potential by providing enough research space for up to 1,000 researchers. With the combination of up-to-the-minute technology and innovative new building design, the University has been able to attract new leading life science researchers. The overall scheme and design was winner of the Power For Aluminium Awards in 2008, recognising imagination, inspiration and innovation in the use of aluminium.