Award-winning Futures Institute is given royal seal of approval
A stunning, category A-listed former hospital that has been painstakingly transformed into a state-of-the-art university building has been officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Credit: Neil Hanna Photography
Academics, students and industry partners from the Edinburgh Futures Institute met The Princess Royal, the University of Edinburgh Chancellor, at an event today (11 April) along with specialist tradespeople who renovated the former Royal Infirmary.
The Institute has been supported by £55 million from the UK Government and £2 million from the Scottish Government as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s Data Driven Innovation programme.
Now an innovation hub driving interdisciplinary research, teaching and entrepreneurship, the historic building brings together students, researchers, partners and the public to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
During the opening, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, and toured the building’s flexible spaces designed to encourage collaboration. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth MSP and Melanie Ward MP were also in attendance.
Credit: Keith Hunter Photography
Innovation hub
Edinburgh Futures Institute was recently recognised in the prestigious Prix Versailles’ World’s Most Beautiful Campuses List alongside five other recently opened buildings worldwide.
Stretching along Lauriston Place in Edinburgh’s Old Town, the building has been a part of Edinburgh’s cityscape since the late 19th Century and housed the city’s main hospital until 2003.
It was sensitively restored during a seven-year project alongside a design team led by Atkins Realis, including architects Bennetts Associates and construction partner Balfour Beatty.
The building is also open to the public with a café, an outdoor square and a new 400-seater purpose-built space to host events.
Through the University’s role in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, Edinburgh Futures Institute is one of six innovation hubs supported to help bring inclusive growth to the region through the funding of infrastructure, skills, and innovation.
Following its redevelopment, the Institute’s new 20,000 sqm home makes it one of the largest centres for interdisciplinary learning and research in Europe.
Edinburgh Futures Institute is a truly exceptional hub for interdisciplinary teaching and research. It plays a central role in the University’s civic mission, helping us to create new and meaningful connections with local and global people, organisations and industries to make an impact for the common good.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson
Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Edinburgh
After years of collective work, Edinburgh Futures Institute's home at the Old Royal Infirmary has become a reality. The University has created an inspiring space that will change how we tackle the big questions of the future by bringing together students and staff from across the arts, humanities and the sciences to work with external partners for the benefit of societies across the world.
Professor Marion Thain
Edinburgh Futures Institute’s Director
Innovation is key to unlocking economic growth along with the skills and jobs it generates. The Edinburgh Futures Institute will play an important role in bringing together some of our brightest minds to solve complex and long-term challenges we face across society, government and business.
The UK Government's £55.68 million support of the EFI is a prime example of where City Region and Growth Deals are making a real impact on people's lives. This - and our £1.4 billion investment into projects across Scotland over the next ten years - is our Plan for Change in action, working with local partners to turbocharge growth.
Ian Murray
Secretary of State for Scotland
Today’s Royal opening of the Edinburgh Futures Institute marks a key milestone for this historical landmark, which has been superbly restored into a space that brings researchers and industry together to tackle some of the challenges that the world faces both now and in the future.
This development will drive growth across the region, which is why the Scottish Government has been proud to support it through our £300 million investment in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Deal.
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
