Teesside University reveals £35 million BIOS science and health learning hub

A university has unveiled £35 million development plans it says will deliver the science and medical advances of tomorrow.

Teesside University is building BIOS.

Described as a “high-quality facility at the heart of the Middlesbrough campus”, bosses say it will “further transform and modernise the learning experience for health students”.

Supporting the university’s school of health and life sciences, they say BIOS will house four floors of laboratory space for subjects including anatomy, imaging, microbiology, chemistry, earth sciences and food sciences.

Work on the building is expected to begin in August, with its opening scheduled for the autumn of next year.

Wates Construction – which previously delivered the university’s Darlington-based National Horizons Centre – is overseeing the work, with Summers-Inman appointed as consultant.

Professor Paul Croney, the university’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, said: “The global pandemic has provided many challenges, but it also highlighted the critical importance of health, medicine and the sciences.

“This facility will enable us to grow and enhance our provision in these key areas, aligning perfectly with the skills needs of the region and country, and delivering against the priorities of our partners across the healthcare sector.”

Professor Tim Thompson, dean of the school of health and life sciences, added: “This is an incredibly exciting development.

“BIOS will help us provide more modern, flexible and digitally-enabled learning spaces to help train the next generation of health professionals and provide a compassionate, forward-thinking and inclusive learning environment.”

BIOS is the latest development in a wider university masterplan that includes the £13.1 million Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, which officials say will help put Teesside at the heart of the UK’s green industrial revolution.