The Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) has historically been housed in a different part of the campus, in a less-than-inspiring building. Those days are over. The new home for EFI is in the historic Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, right in the middle of town. While it’s been recently renovated from top to bottom, its history still endures. I’ve met a few people in Edinburgh who were born there, and all of them know someone who died there. Needless to say, it’s more than some old building; it’s integrated into the townspeople’s lives. Immediately upon entering the building, there’s an homage to Florence Nightingale, the famous English social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing.
While the university has made a massive investment in the space, the Scottish government has also contributed millions of pounds to the project. Now, all cohorts, researchers, post-docs, and companies occupy one space to actively study, learn, and advance solutions for the world’s most challenging problems.
The inside of the building is incredible; it is a beautiful integration of modernization that doesn’t surrender any of the charm of the old building. Steel, glass, and centuries-old stone all complement each other. In some ways, it symbolizes the diversity of people who cohabitate there. The interior spaces are thoughtful. There are large lecture rooms, breakout rooms for smaller team meetings, causal gathering spaces, and thoughtful little nooks for more private conversations. There are also two “maker studios” that house the 3-D printers, robotics, and other high-tech stuff that looks expensive…and fun. Every room in this building is a place you genuinely want to spend time in. While I’m a firm believer in the idea that who teaches you matters, I now believe that where you’re taught also matters.