Announced by Gordon Campbell, the premier of BC government, the new pharmaceutical sciences building will feature almost two hectares of floor space containing research and teaching laboratories, office space and classrooms, as well as additional space to be leased out to tenants operating in the drug research, development and commercialization field. The total project cost is $133.3 million, and will create approximately 850 construction jobs.
Built to target LEED-Gold certification, the new building space will also allow the professional pharmacy degree program to expand 47% in enrolment. An additional 72 students will be able to start the program by 2011 for a total of up to 224 new pharmacists by 2015. The faculty’s masters, doctoral, and Pharm. D. graduate programs will also expand during the same period, and the building will provide space for 896 undergraduates.
Campbell said that this facility will ensure increased numbers of pharmacists are able to train in BC to help meet the health care needs of British Columbians now and for the future.