LiDR Contract Furniture Ltd are thrilled to announce that we have been appointed by Wates Construction as the bespoke furniture subcontractor on Oxford University’s new Life and Mind Building. The £200m facility is the university’s largest-ever construction project.

The new building will comprise a four-storey area for offices and subject testing booths, an adjoining five-storey block with specialised laboratory space, imaging facilities and workshops, with lecture facilities on the basement and ground floors.

Once complete, the Life and Mind Building will accommodate 800 students and 1,200 researchers.

Solving global challenges

Professor Chris Kennard, Senior Responsible Officer on the project said;

“Our vision for the new building is that it will transform the way psychological and biological science is done in Oxford because it will enable more multidisciplinary collaboration and sharing of knowledge and ideas to happen than ever before. Quite simply it will help scientists to solve some of our major global challenges.

It will also be transformational for our students, in terms of their education experience and choices, as well as providing exciting new public spaces and more opportunities for public engagement with our research.”

The Life and Mind Building will become the new home for two University departments: Experimental Psychology and a new department of Biology, combining Zoology and Plant Sciences.

Unique furniture designs

LiDR Contract Furniture will be manufacturing bespoke furniture throughout the building, such as reception counters, display cabinets and storage, bespoke seating and furniture for collaborative working spaces.

Managing Director Andrew Leake said;

“We are delighted to be appointed as a subcontractor on such a prestigious project. The nature of the building means there will be some challenging elements, such as the use of natural stone and the unique nature of some of the designs, but we are excited to begin the design process and see the project come to fruition over the next year.”

More information about the vision of the Life and Mind Building is available at https://lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/