HOK to design London medical research hub

The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation has announced plans to build a world-leading biomedical research institute in central London, designed by architect HOK London.

The centre will house scientists from four organisations: Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council, UCL (University College London) and the Wellcome Trust. The building will be used for research into illnesses such as cancers, heart disease and stroke and flu.

UKCMRI will be built on 3.6 acres of land in the St Pancras and Somers Town area of north London. The planning application for will be submitted in spring 2010, following a consultation period with the community and stakeholders. Work is scheduled to begin on the site in early 2011, for completion in late 2014 or early 2015.

Paul Nurse, chairman of scientific planning at the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI), said: “London and the UK will be very proud of the work undertaken in this highly interactive building. Situated at the heart of a matchless cluster of medical expertise in Camden, it aims to benefit the lives of countless people in the years ahead.”

Larry Malcic, director of design at architect HOK London, said: “We wanted a building that would provide the resources necessary for scientists to make life-changing biomedical. This building complements the local environment and is a state-of-the-art building of the type befitting a globally important project of this stature.”