Hadyn Ellis Building

The Hadyn Ellis Building is the University’s latest research facility housing highly advanced facilities for some of the University’s world-leading research teams.

The University’s European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and National Centre for Mental Health are all housed in the state-of-the-art facility.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan said: ‘The opening of the new Hadyn Ellis Building marks a new and important chapter for the University. As well as a striking landmark development, it is the gateway to the University’s ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the whole of the Maindy Road site. The building plays host to some of the most advanced facilities and, for the first time, brings some of our best scientists together under one roof. It’s a clear indicator of our research ambition to become one of the world’s top 100 Universities.’

The building is named in honour of the late University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hadyn Ellis. Professor Ellis was highly influential in the development of the University until his death in 2006. In his own field of academic research, he was a pioneer in the cognitive psychology of face recognition. He published leading research on prosopagnosia – the inability to recognise faces following brain injury.

Professor Ellis became Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research in 1994. The period saw the University increase its research income and shoot-up the national league tables – crucial to Cardiff entering the elite Russell Group of research–led universities. Appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2001, he played a key role in the merger with the University of Wales College of Medicine and was awarded a CBE for his services to Higher Education in 2004.

Professor Riordan added: ‘We believe that it is entirely fitting that our new building should bear the name of one of the University’s most well respected academics and highly regarded Deputy Vice-Chancellors – Professor Hadyn Ellis. A visionary, his commitment to breaking down academic barriers went way beyond his time. He was an active champion of interdisciplinary research excellence, which the Hadyn Ellis Building now fosters. He also played a leading role in the creation of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute for which the Hadyn Ellis Building now provides a modern, well-equipped home.’

As well as housing three major research teams, the building is also home to Public Health Wales and the University’s Graduate College. The ground floor includes an attractive public area for lectures, displays and conferences about the University’s work and a 150-person lecture theatre.

The building was designed by Nightingale Associates and constructed by BAM Construction. It has already been recognised for its sustainability and was awarded the Higher Education category of the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method BREEAM) Awards Wales in 2012.