Special Feature : Construction engineering and energy technology research groups in Europe , with a £ 35 million portfolio of activities in power grids and low carbon energy systems .
• The Weir Advanced Research Centre , where senior Weir engineers work side-by-side with leading engineering academics to develop product solutions and core technologies .
• The Centre for Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation , a leading UK national facility delivering international impact in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals .
• The Institute of Future Cities ' City Observatory – an innovative information system which collects , manages and interprets diverse data related to the urban environment , in order to aid the sustainability of cities nationally and internationally .
• The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics – a worldleading research centre in the field of solid state lasers . This is its UK headquarters and they have extensive laser laboratories within the TIC .
The Centre is also home to world-class conference facilities with a state-of-the-art , tiered auditorium for up to 450 people in various formats ; a smaller auditorium with seating for 150 ; plus eight seminar or break-out rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows .
Since its official opening in 2015 , more than 23,000 visitors have used the conference facilities , a clear demonstration of the TIC ’ s ability to engage with its partners .
Prof Sir Jim McDonald , Principal of Strathclyde University , said at the official opening : “ Our new Centre represents our commitment to undertaking world-class research and translating its outcomes for maximum benefit to society and the economy .
" The Centre further establishes Strathclyde ' s position as the partner of choice for business , industry and the public sector . Our collaborations are opening up exceptional opportunities for students too , with sponsorships , internships and vocational
The TIC provides a world-class environment for open innovation
projects to equip them with essential and relevant skills to develop their careers .
" Through the Centre ' s deep collaborations , Strathclyde is driving business innovation and growth , creating jobs , and attracting millions of pounds of inward investment to Scotland and the UK . In the spirit of our founding mission as the place of useful learning , work-streams in the Centre are delivering high-impact innovation and shaping technologies to improve human health , transform the energy landscape , set new standards in manufacturing and contribute to the development of future cities .
" Our partners , students and the global community we serve have responded with overwhelming positivity to the incredible opportunities that the TIC will open up – both today and for future generations ."
Malcolm Tait will be speaking about the TIC building at the UKSPA Conference at Loughborough University in May .
TIC : Bridging the gap between academia and industry
The TIC building is highly ambitious and the results are truly transformational , say BDP ’ s Architect Directors Christoph Ackermann and Scott Mackenzie … With a project value of £ 89 million , the TIC was the single largest project in the Scottish higher education sector at the time , and is unique in that it is not directed at undergraduate teaching .
Instead the TIC bridges the gap between academia and industry and in so doing strengthens collaboration and encourages true innovation in practical research .
The TIC project promotes knowledge exchange with business and public sector organisations in a way that will improve university-business entrepreneurship , industry engagement and research commercialisation through strategic industry focussed partnerships , networks , mutual leverage and value .
The TIC building form is relatively simple . It is triangular in plan to exploit the available site area , resulting in a building that is a unique urban intervention , whilst respecting its surroundings . The TIC has a deliberately expressive form which is a direct result of the brief and the site context .
The triangular ring of accommodation is highly flexible and efficient in terms of circulation and servicing . Natural daylight is afforded to the great majority of spaces , either via the external facade or by the central atrium space .
Elevational treatments reflect the need for flexibility within the internal layouts . East and West elevations house openplan office accommodation , whilst the northern elevation is expressed differently to emphasise the more specialist nature of the labs within , the civic importance of the George Street frontage and the main entrance .
Through collaboration and consultation between the client group and the design team a highly sustainable , iconic , landmark building has been created befitting the civic status of the facility .
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