A new Bio-Hub at Cambridge Science Park designed by global practice Scott Brownrigg, has completed.
The £65 million scheme incorporates a group of exemplary buildings – plots 22, 25 and 26, which reinforce Cambridge Science Park’s status as not only the oldest park of its type within the UK but also as a world-leading technology and science centre.
Designed for clients Trinity College Cambridge and Tsinghua University Holdings (TUS Park UK), via project developers Bidwells, the objective was to reinvigorate the park with a group of new buildings to attract the best in science and technology research, as well as development clients.
Masterminded by Trinity College Cambridge, the wider £200 million investment into the park by Tsinghua University Holdings was lauded by the Prime Minister Teresa May in 2018.
The cluster of 21st century science buildings that form the Bio-Hub provide a catalyst for further Park rejuvenation and set the standard for future developments within the Park, as well as the surrounding area.
“The Bio-Hub offers opportunities for flexible work and research space to over 2000 scientists. Positioned on the southern fringes, plot 25 incorporates Scott Brownrigg’s ‘Flexlab’ design, a methodology that puts future adaptability at its core, with ‘plug and play’ laboratory furniture to suit any layout.” [Ross McWatt, Associate, Scott Brownrigg]
All three buildings are designed for high technology tenants and use a highly adaptable design that allows for multiple occupants per floor and flexibility between laboratory and office space to suit a tenant’s capacity and ongoing needs.
Plot 25 (The Bio Innovation Centre) hosts 28 individual flexible laboratories with dedicated write up rooms, and large open plan biology and chemistry spaces, with state-of-the art support facilities including fume cupboards and piped gases by centralised distribution.
The reception area in Plot 25 leads into an open café space where conversations and collaborations will take place. It stands out with a perforated black metal ceiling, giving it both a feeling of elevated height and helping to distinguish it as a focal, communal space within the building.
The plots are wrapped within elegant façades, with rhythmic curtain walling details and feature chamfered bays at key corners.
“The Bio-Hub is a very exciting project to be involved in. The expectation and what we achieved was a series of high quality landmark buildings which set a new standard in the Park’s built environment, meeting the British Council for Offices and BREEAM Excellent standards, making it incredibly efficient at 89.5% NIA:GIA.
We were also delighted with the design achieved, with it being both striking and contemporary, having angular lines reflected by a façade cladding of glass and with metallic panels and fins for solar shading – this involved many meetings and detailed options to achieve this look. We feel the real lasting success of the project was the incredible working relationship of the team. Everyone was completely on board from day one, which made the whole project journey incredibly effective in overcoming any challenges” [John Pearson, Associate, Project Management, Bidwells]
With the Bio Hub now complete, tenants are moving into the new buildings straight away.