Glasgow University celebrates topping out ceremony

A topping out ceremony has taken place at Glasgow University’s new Imaging Centre of Excellence.

The centre will be supported by the NHS and funded by the UK Government and the Medical Research Council (MRC) as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal. The Centre will be a place for academic, scientific and NHS clinical expertise into brain imaging for diseases such as stroke, brain tumours and dementia.

Professor Anna Dominiczak, Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science at Glasgow University, said: “This building is the physical representation of a very successful collaboration between the University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Clyde and Glasgow. The creation of this internationally competitive centre incorporating NHS, academic and industry partners will maximise and facilitate the economic impact from the clinical research excellence at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.”

The building will contain a £10m 7 Tesla MRI scanner. It will be the first of its kind in Scotland and one of the only 7T scanners placed on a clinical site around the world. The Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE) is expected to generate up to 400 new jobs and add almost £85m for the local economy over the next ten years.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Chair of the Glasgow City Region City Deal Cabinet, said: “I am delighted that a further milestone has been achieved for the Glasgow University ICE project, one of three Innovation projects, funded and supported as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal between the eight City region member authorities, the UK Government and the Scottish Government.”

Companies involved in the construction of ICE building include bmj architects, BAM Construction, Hulley & Kirkwood, Arup and Currie and Brown.