Architect Bennetts Associates has beaten off competition from Foster and Partners, Building Design Partnership and RMJM Architects, to be preferred bidder for a research facility at the University of Edinburgh.
Bennetts Associates is bidding for the £50m project in a joint venture with structural engineer Buro Happold and Edinburgh practice Reiach and Hall.

The 30,000 m2 building is to be built on the site of a campus car park and will accommodate the university's School of Informatics.

A health centre, a seminar space, laboratories, offices and workshops will also be included in the design.

The development is part of the university's construction programme, which includes another £50m to be spent on research buildings between 2004 and 2006.

A spokesperson for the university said a final decision on the project is expected to be made at the end of next month.