Applications were submitted to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

The applications to CIHR and AHFMR were granted in April 1997 and Dr. Sykes and the NANUC team at the University of Alberta began securing the additional funds required for the construction and equipping of the Facility. Funding activities were complete by March 1998.

Planning
Planning for the facility was initiated in June 1997 and by May 1998 the design of the building was complete and ready to be sent for tender.

The major equipment for the facility, an 800 MHz NMR spectrometer, was ordered in February 1998. In addition, as a result of the negotiations with the equipment supplier, a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer with new flow probe technology was obtained as part of a package deal.

Construction
Construction of the facility was started in August 1998 and substantial completion was achieved in March 1999. The major equipment was delivered in April 1999 and installation was completed in June 1999 with operations starting thereafter.