£116m flagship research building welcomes its first experts

A flagship research building in the West End has welcomed its first occupants.

The ARC (Advanced Research Centre) is set within the new University of Glasgow campus off Byres Road and Dumbarton Road.

The £116 million, 16,000 metre-square building will be a pioneering centre for collaborative research.

It will encourage the exploration of cross-disciplinary ideas and foster involvement from external and industry partners.

Over the next few months more than 500 researchers, technicians and professional staff will move into the ARC.

And the first group to take their seats are experts in the field of digital chemistry.

Cutting-edge

ARC will house cutting-edge equipment and allow the 60 strong group to be co-located together for the first time.

Professor Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry, is leading the group.

The ARC (Advanced Research Centre) is set within the new University of Glasgow campus.

He said: "This is a huge milestone for us as a research group. It is fantastic that we will be in one space for the first time, but the opportunity of the ARC is more than that.

“We will be sharing space with colleagues from different research areas, meeting people with new ideas and interests.

“This will lead to new conversations that would never have happened before, and what comes from those conversations is the exciting bit.”

This is a huge milestone for us as a research group. It is fantastic that we will be in one space for the first time, but the opportunity of the ARC is more than that.

Prof Lee Cronin

Professor Andrew Tobin, director of the ARC, said: “Through the ARC we are attempting something disruptive and hugely exciting - an evolution in how we operate as a research-intensive University.

“Once the building is fully operational we will have a diverse range of disciplines sharing one space, the potential cannot be over-estimated.

“Beyond that we have also created new spaces to support colleagues across the campus to realise their research, innovation and engagement ambitions, spaces which can support creativity, conferences, networking and collaboration.”

Prof Lee Cronin and his team.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “Seeing the building rapidly move towards being fully operational is incredibly exciting.

“The ARC is central to our research strategy and our continued commitment to creating world-changing research which contributes to global challenges.

“I look forward to seeing the building fully open for more colleagues and the public later this year.”