L&G to fund Oxford University's £200m Life and Mind sciences building

Legal & General has announced that it will fund and deliver the new sciences building with the University of Oxford to serve as a world-class home for their departments of Zoology, Plant Sciences and Experimental Psychology.

The new £200m ‘Life and Mind Building’ will be the largest building project ever undertaken on behalf of the University, and its largest teaching and research facility – a new home for the Departments of Experimental Psychology and Biology – combining the existing departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology.

In June 2019, Legal & General entered into a £4bn house-building partnership with the University of Oxford.

The demolition of the existing Tinbergen building is due to be complete by October 2020.

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive at Legal & General, said “The Life and Mind Building will provide students with a modern, state-of-the-art facility that helps continue the University of Oxford’s legacy as one of the world’s most pre-eminent teaching institutions. We are extremely proud of our partnership with the University of Oxford, which in the wake of COVID-19 will help retain talent in the city, whilst driving essential inward investment and providing opportunities for world-leading innovation as well as much needed housing for key workers.

“Legal & General has invested over £25bn in levelling-up regional economies throughout the UK, including by forming major partnerships with local and central governments, universities and local businesses in Cardiff, Greater Manchester and Newcastle. By facilitating investment the UK’s regional cities, we are creating a virtuous cycle whereby pensions and savings are used to create positive social, environmental and economic outcomes which are in line with our commitment to Inclusive Capitalism.”

Professor Louise Richardson, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said “The University of Oxford is delighted to be working in partnership with Legal & General to deliver a landmark Life and Mind building that will transform the relationship between the biological and psychological sciences. This fabulous building will provide innovative facilities for teaching and research, which will enable Oxford to train a new generation of scientists who in turn will help us to address critical global challenges.”