The Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation

Sunday 24th October, 2004 Winning Designs in Drug Development

The awards are given to designs that offer a valuable contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment. Only schemes that are judged to reach the highest standard of design receive an award.

The IPI building is comprised of six floors dedicated to optimising pharmaceutical drug development and bioscience business, designed by architects Rance Booth & Smith Ltd, and built by Mansell.

Estates and Facilities Director at the University of Bradford, Clive Wilson, said: “Built on time and within budget, the IPI represents partnering between client, architect, contractor and consultants at its best. The building has been well received visually and functionally. It is very cost-effective building, it responds to its site and functional demands whilst remaining fresh and exciting. It has already become a symbol for the University and is a good example of what can happen when everyone commits to good design.”

IPI logo and link.The IPI building sits on a brick plinth on a dramatic site at the edge of the University, with its crisp metallic cladding and large areas of glazing giving it a contemporary look. The angled faceted planes of the roof and the faade of solar-shading louvers give the building articulation and identity. The generous and prow-like vertical circulation leads to a full-height internal atrium that gives access to laboratory and write-up space via walkways and bridges.

The award, which was presented to the designer, owner and builder of the scheme by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Irene Ellison-Wood, also recognised the IPI’s contribution to its environmental strategy through its atrium which allowed natural stack effect ventilation.

Notes to Editors

The IPI is hosting a high-profile global launch at the Royal Society and House of Lords in London on Wednesday, 27 October, 2004. Lord David Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, will open the event. The keynote speaker will be Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge, Chairman of the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Any journalists wishing to attend the Royal Society event should contact Rachael Ellis on 01274 233084.

The IPI is a new facility dedicated to drug development research and bioscience commercialisation.

Built with 2m assistance from Yorkshire Forward, the IPI was officially opened in October 2003.

Research in the IPI focuses on drug formulation and delivery, with special emphases on developing in-silco techniques to accelerate the drug development process, using high-powered computing resources.

A photograph of the IPI is available from the Press Office. See contact details below.

Contacts for Media only
Further information for Media Enquirers

For further media information, contact Emma Banks in the first instance on 01274 233089. Out of office hours, contact Rachael Ellis on 0787 9437986. Alternatively, e-mail or fax on (01274) 236280.