The Life and Mind building, enabled by Legal & General (L&G), is set to open this academic year as one of the largest building projects in Oxford University’s history. The facility will house the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology, as well as the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research (IOI).

Designed by internationally acclaimed architects NBBJ, the building will support research into fundamental questions about humanity and tackle global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, mental health, and food security.

Developed and funded by L&G, the project was delivered through the Oxford University Development (OUD) partnership, a £4 billion joint venture between the University and L&G, which also supports academic facilities, housing, and infrastructure.

Spanning over 269,000 sq ft, the Life and Mind building offers state-of-the-art research labs, lecture halls, and teaching spaces, providing a base for more than 1,400 scientists, academics, researchers, support staff, and postgraduate students. It will also serve as the primary teaching hub for around 1,000 undergraduate students, fostering education, research, innovation, and public engagement in a single transformative facility.