A $105 million project which has created new jobs and contributed millions of dollars to local industry has been recognised in an award competition announced in Brisbane today.
The purpose-designed and built, University of Queensland (UQ)/CSIRO Joint Building Project (JBP) was Highly Commended in the Major Government project category of the ISO Local Content Awards at an Engineering Queensland function.
The project is designed to facilitate ground-breaking research into better understanding human and animal biology conducted by scientists at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and several research divisions of CSIRO.
The ISO Local Content Award for Major Government Project category recognises the expertise of local architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers to produce a world-class complex with features and facilities not currently found in Australia.
The prestigious award was accepted by the IMB`s Deputy Director Dr Ian Taylor on behalf of UQ and CSIRO.
Dr Taylor said the eight-storey building utilised the most innovative mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire services to provide a safe, pleasant and space-efficient work environment.
"The building is fitted with cutting-edge facilities that will complement the IMB and CSIRO`s scientific excellence. This includes nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, advanced microscopy and super-computing facilities," Dr Taylor said.
"This project under construction since 2000, brings enormous value to Queensland and Australia in terms of jobs, local content and of course bioindustry development. The JBP stands at the pinnacle of the Queensland Government`s Smart State initiative in biotechnology.
"The discoveries generated in this complex created by such a dedicated local team will play an important role in providing the intellectual property on which Queensland will continue to build a competitive and sustainable knowledge-based economy."
Funding for this project was contributed by CSIRO ($50 million), UQ ($15 million) the Queensland Government ($15 million), Federation Fund ($15 million) and an anonymous donor ($10 million).
Media: For more information contact Russell Griggs at IMB, telephone 07 3365 1805 or email:r.griggs@imb.uq.edu.au.
