New £9million labs at St Andrews University following blaze

The new temporary labs should be ready by mid-October - it's after a fire in February resulted in the Biomedical Sciences building suffering extensive water damage.

An artist's impression of the new lab.
Published 9th Jul 2019

Temporary labs are being set up at the University of St Andrews - five months after a fire tore through part of the building.

The Biomedical Sciences building suffered extensive water damage after crews battled the blaze on the North Haugh back in February.

The new £9million labs have been built by Portakabin in York.

They will be transferred to the Fife town at the start of next week and should be ready by mid-October.

Professor Tom Brown, Dean of Science at the University said: “The fire at the Biomedical Sciences building was devastating to not only the researchers, students and staff here in St Andrews, but was also felt across the whole scientific community.”

“The construction of the temporary lab facilities ensures that the ground-breaking research carried out within BMS continues and lets the world know that we are open for business, delivering results of real global significance.”

New chemistry research labs within the Purdie Building at North Haugh will also be developed - which will cost £3million.

The full extent of the fire damage to the Biomedical Sciences building is still unknown.

An artist's impression of inside the new lab.

After chemical and equipment are cleared from the building a full assessment of the damage will take place.