New health sciences building to be constructed over the next three years

Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation; Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland; and Egill Viðarsson, Ivon Stefán Cilia and Hrafnhildur Ólafsdóttir representing a consulting team from Verkís, TBL architects and John Cooper Architecture, signed a contract earlier this month for the comprehensive design of a new building to house the University of Iceland's School of Health Sciences. The contract was also signed by Inga Þórsdóttir, dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Runólfur Pálsson, CEO of Landspítali University Hospital. The building is due to be constructed on Hringbraut, close to the new Landspítali University Hospital, and should be completed by mid 2025.

A select number of organisations were invited to submit designs in a closed tender and the successful bidder was a team led by Verkís. The team comprises Verkís, John Cooper Architecture and TBL architects, the last of which is an umbrella company of three firms: T.ark, Batteríið Architects and Landslag.

The new building will be about 8,300 m2 and is designed to unite almost all School of Health Sciences operations under one roof. It will be connected to Læknagarður, which will also be renovated. The building will be specially designed to meet the School's needs. Teaching and research facilities will be modernised and improved, enabling efficient sharing of facilities and greater flexibility. The Eirberg building, which has been used by the UI Faculty of Nursing for decades, will continue to be used by the School: for teaching, skill training and student facilities. The Faculty of Psychology will also continue to operate in Nýji Garður.

The new building will be constructed and operations fully transferred before renovation works begin in Læknagarður. This will ensure continuity in the work of the School of Health Sciences. Construction should start at the beginning of next year and the new building should be ready to use by mid 2025. Renovation of Læknagarður should be completed by the end of 2017.

"The health sciences are increasingly important for our society, in terms of improving health promotion and services and also reducing the size and cost of the healthcare system. Across the world, priority is being placed on identifying new methods and solutions and supporting dynamic health sciences. The planned development of the Landspítali area is an important and welcome milestone for education, research and innovation in health the sciences, as well as increased collaboration between the University of Iceland and Landspítali University Hospital," said Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

"Signing this contract represents a major step towards constructing a new building for the School of Health Sciences, something that has been a goal for the University of Iceland for a long time. The School of Health Sciences is currently scattered across Reykjavík, from Hofsvallagata to Vínlandsleið, and the new building will unite almost all School operations with the new Landspítali University Hospital on Hringbraut. Landspítali University Hospital is already the University of Iceland's largest and most important partner and our collaboration in teaching, research, innovation and public engagement will undoubtedly expand still further over the next years thanks to this project.  An investment in education and knowledge creation is an investment in the future, so the signing of this contract marks an important milestone not only for us, but indeed for the entire nation," said Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland.  

"A building that will offer even better facilities to educate future healthcare professionals, a boon for the Icelandic nation – Verkís builds communities," said Egill Viðarsson, CEO of Verkís.

"The future of education and research in the health sciences, and therefore the future of our nation, depends on the new and modernised facilities to be be built in what we have called the UI Health Sciences Park. We look forward to seeing the new building go up and be joined with Læknagarður, near to Eirberg, Landspítali University Hospital and the main campus. Thank you and good luck to everyone," said Inga Þórsdóttir, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

"A long-standing dream is becoming reality. The new building will revolutionise development of teaching and research at the University of Iceland School of Health Sciences. The School of Health Sciences building will undoubtedly prove an important factor in the development of Landspítali as an international standard university hospital," said Runólfur Pálsson, CEO of Landspítali University Hospital.