Demolition commenced on the Darwin Tower at the King’s Buildings Campus last month, marking the first step in the University of Edinburgh’s plan to build ‘New Darwin’ – a “next-generation bioscience hub”.
BMJ Architects, the firm contracted for the design and construction of the redevelopment, submitted a planning application for New Darwin at the beginning of September.
Built in 1968, the Darwin Tower was formerly home to the Institute of Cell Biology, Britain’s first university-level department of molecular biology.
The building played host to breakthroughs in genetic engineering developed by Edinburgh couple Kenneth and Lady Noreen Murray.
In a statement, BMJ Architects said “[New Darwin would] provide a sustainable, collaborative and welcoming environment that supports health & wellbeing, and fosters community and interaction.”
The proposed replacement would be relatively small compared to the current structure, with the aim of homogenizing the aesthetic of the King’s Buildings Campus.
Emphasized in statements by both BMJ and the university, New Darwin would be “net-zero-ready” to align with the university’s plans to be net zero by 2040 as the building would be “net-zero-ready”.
The redeveloped Darwin would include laboratories, teaching spaces, areas for collaboration, and public engagement facilities.
According to the university, these amenities will support efforts to address global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity.
In an effort to minimize disturbance to the local (mainly residential) area, the clearing of the construction zone will utilize so-called “deconstruction.”
This process involves carefully dismantling a building rather than quickly demolishing it.
If the planning application is successful, it will be some time before Edinburgh students will have access to the new facility.
Construction is currently expected to begin in Autumn 2025, with the building opening its doors in early 2028.
“Darwin Tower, Kings Buildings Campus (geograph 6751672)” by Graeme Yuill is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
