Construction is officially underway on James Cook University’s $50 million Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre (CTEC).

The four-storey project will stand alongside Cairns Hospital’s new 32-bed surgical centre on Charles St in North Cairns, as part of the Far North Queensland Health Innovation Precinct.

“Today we’re starting our build, creating a centre for clinical teaching, training and research in medicine, allied health and related disciplines – all aligned to the needs of this region and its health workforce,” JCU Vice Chancellor Simon Biggs said.

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“This is a landmark that we’re proud to be building – one that celebrates its place in tropical Cairns, and will help secure a healthier future for Cairns and Far North Queensland.”

CTEC has been designed by Wilson Architects, in collaboration with local firm Clark & Prince Architects. It will be built by BESIX Watpac.

The building will house a multi-disciplinary clinic on the ground floor, with teaching and research facilities on the floors above. It will also be a meeting point where health and medical staff can connect with JCU’s engineers, data scientists, and IT specialists.

The project is expected to create an estimated 150 jobs during its construction, and is planned for completion by early 2025.