The Crop Innovation Centre (CIC) at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie, which was delivered by construction company McLaughlin & Harvey, was officially opened today.

The UK Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, and First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney MSP, unveiled the CIC, which houses both the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) and the International Barley Hub (IBH).

The innovative centres were created in partnership with the University of Dundee Plants Sciences Division and funded as part of a £62m investment through the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD) by the UK and Scottish Governments.

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The TCRD also facilitated the construction of the Mylnefield Farm building and the IBH Field Centre on the James Hutton Institute's Invergowrie campus.

The IBH and APGC are steel-framed buildings clad with vieo/equitone panels to provide the strength and resilience required to facilitate the high-tech research equipment inside.

They have also been topped with a single-ply membrane roof, offering superior waterproofing and thermal insulation to maintain stable internal temperatures.

Construction of the new building posed unique challenges due to its location within the active campus.

McLaughlin & Harvey worked closely with the Hutton's project management team, focusing on logistical planning to ensure minimal disruption to staff. Modern vacuum techniques were used to safeguard existing infrastructure and ensure that there was no disruption to the Hutton's operations.

The IBH is fully equipped with a new auditorium, a boardroom, advanced laboratories, meeting rooms, open-plan offices and a café with a seated area on the ground floor, connected by a spacious Level 1 atrium.