Oxford University has officially opened the £200 million Life and Mind Building – a world-class teaching and research facility designed to address some of the most pressing global challenges in science and society.
Enabled by Legal & General (L&G), the building is one of the largest construction projects in the University’s history. It will house the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology, as well as the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI).
Designed by internationally renowned architects NBBJ, the landmark facility will enable researchers to explore fundamental questions about life, mind and the environment — from understanding human behaviour to tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, food security and mental health.
Developed and funded by L&G through the Oxford University Development (OUD) partnership, the £4 billion joint venture between Oxford University and Legal & General is delivering new academic facilities, research centres, housing and supporting infrastructure across the city.
Opening in time for the new academic year, the Life and Mind Building provides 269,000 sq ft of flexible teaching, research and collaboration space. It will host more than 1,400 scientists, academics, postgraduate researchers and support staff, alongside around 1,000 undergraduate students.
Facilities include sleep labs, virtual reality and motor labs, experimental classrooms, multisensory labs, rooftop glasshouses, controlled-environment laboratories, and a dedicated home for the University’s botanical collections of approximately one million specimens.
Professor Irene Tracey, CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said:
“The opening of this inspiring building is a proud moment in our partnership with Legal & General, and a wonderful milestone for Oxford.
“The Life and Mind building isn’t just a world-class facility – it’s a place designed to bring people together.
“By uniting biologists and experimental psychologists under one roof, it will spark fresh ideas, foster collaboration, and help us tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our world.”
The building will also host the new Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research – supported by a £27 million gift from The Paul Foundation – focusing on improving mental health outcomes for children, young people and families.
Gareth Mee, Chief Investment Officer, Institutional Retirement at L&G, said the project exemplifies “capital with a purpose”, while Anna Strongman, CEO of Oxford University Development, described it as “a fantastic achievement for all involved and a great addition to the wider Oxford ecosystem.”
