Begbroke Science Park – Building 1

Sector Office & Workplace, Science & Research
Client Oxford Science Enterprises

The most recent addition to Begbroke Science Park, Building 1, brings together a unique blend of world-class scientists, industry leaders, decision-makers, and visionary entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and commercial opportunities.

To support the growing ecosystem of the park, a commercial sciences building was commissioned, and Fairhursts were selected to provide the fit-out. Strategically designed to cater to a diverse range of science companies, the scheme offers adaptable spaces that accommodate various business scales.

Spanning from fully-equipped wet lab spaces, bench-scale and self-contained wet and dry labs, to serviced shell and core spaces for larger enterprises, the facility is poised to meet the dynamic needs of the scientific community.

Value

The design strategy for Building 1 was focused on fostering innovation by creating spaces that promote collaboration. Thoughtful interior design was used to optimise central areas such as the three-story central atrium and craft social breakout zones which instigate spontaneous interactions.

Sensory experience, daylight exposure, and modern working preferences were strongly considered in the design, with WELL standards being implemented throughout the entire building. From the interior collaborative areas through to the lab-lined perimeter of the building, the design choices were all made to ensure that occupants are placed in an environment designed for wellbeing and productivity no matter where they are in the building.

The laboratory fitout provides a high ratio of flexible workspaces which ensure a wide variety of needs and modes of work are accounted for, from small start-ups utilising rentable bench models to larger organisations fitting out full wet labs.

In these ways, Building 1 not only creates a vibrant social atmosphere, but also ensures its technical capabilities remain at the top end of the available offer to support advancing research. This interconnected environment is poised to amplify innovation, enrich community engagement, and ensure the park thrives as a hub for ground breaking research.

“Fairhursts consistently delivers a superior level of service, underpinned by their exceptional expertise in the sector. Their commitment to the partnership is evident through their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, consistently providing insightful contributions based on their extensive experience and delivering high-quality design solutions. ”
Pete Wilder Head of Property, Oxford Science Enterprises
Impact

Located on the Gateway site, Building 1 will be the first structure that visitors and tenants will engage with when filtering into the campus and thus holds an important role of crafting a new and welcoming arrival and transition into the park. The interiors ensure that the building is a warm addition to the growing innovative community at Begbroke Science Park, while the flexible fit out of the labs works to ensure the building holds significant commercial impact in fields like bioscience and Meditech.

On a broader scale, its contribution to the regional economy is significant, expanding the Begbroke campus, attracting further talent and investment to the area. At the same time, the building’s alignment with strict sustainability criteria ensures it supports this growth sustainably, with energy-efficient systems, reduced carbon emissions, and innovative approaches to laboratory energy consumption.

Sustainability

The fitout of this building considered its environmental responsibility from all angles. Materials, finishes, and furnishings were all chosen to ensure these new additions upheld a high standard of sustainable production and sourcing. The creation of smart waste management systems and adaptable gas storage were also central components to ensuring this space was prepared to handle advanced research activities sustainably.

Due to the energy intensive nature of laboratory equipment, an enormous proportion of the overall carbon consumption of labs comes through their operation. To address this, a custom tenant pack was created for the client outlining the ways in which the labs could minimise their impact through sustainable operation, specifically geared towards the mitigation of unregulated loads. This ensured that the environmental savings didn’t stop with the completion of the project but rather gave the client the tools and knowledge to continue this sustainable approach throughout the building’s lifetime

Details

Information

Scope Architecture and Interior Design service RIBA Stages 2 – 4 Status Live Location Begbroke Science Park Value £20m

Collaborators & Partners

Interior Designer Fairhursts Structural Engineer Engineers HRW Mep Engineer Delta Green Environmental Consultant Beyond Carbon Acoustic Consultant Bloc Project Manager Bidwell QS Acon
The National Horizons Centre
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