Mortlock House

Nuclera had outgrown its existing premises and required a specialist facility that could support the next phase of its growth. At Mortlock House, a vacant office building at the entrance to Vision Park in Histon, the project transformed 30,000 sq ft of commercial space into a bespoke production and Research & Development facility for the company’s pioneering protein bioprinter technology.

The project involved the comprehensive refurbishment of the existing building, extending well beyond a laboratory fit-out. The façade and roof were refurbished, all plant was replaced, and the building was stripped back to its core before being fitted with new services infrastructure designed specifically to support advanced scientific research and production.

The completed facility provides a diverse range of specialist environments, including production workshops, bioanalytical and clean biology laboratories, a dedicated chemistry laboratory, and optics and electronics testing spaces. Goods-in and manufacturing areas have been carefully integrated to support efficient operational workflows, while modern offices, meeting rooms and welfare facilities provide accommodation for up to 160 staff.

Externally, a new service compound was introduced to safely manage waste, specialist gases and bulk gas storage, supporting the operational requirements of the facility.

Working to an ambitious programme, our architectural team collaborated closely with the contractor, developing the design alongside trade package procurement and the commencement of on-site works. This integrated approach enabled the project to progress at pace while maintaining design quality and delivery certainty.

By repurposing an existing office building into a highly specialised production and R&D environment, Mortlock House provides Nuclera with a facility capable of supporting continued innovation and future growth within the Cambridge life sciences cluster.

The project demonstrates the value of adapting and repurposing existing buildings to meet the changing needs of the life sciences sector. Through the comprehensive refurbishment of an existing commercial building, the scheme has created a specialist research and production environment while extending the life of the existing asset.