REPORT Oxford 'Science Cities' part two
Image: courtesy of Culham Science Park
Future Cities Forum's second panel discussion at 'Science Cities' Oxford at Said Business School, involved Tim Bestwick Chief Development Officer, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Jane Hutchins, Director of the Cambridge Science Park, William Hook, Architect Director, BDP and Phil Earley, Associate at Pilbrow and Partners. The panel was facilitated by Arup's UK Head of Science Sector, Tim Fry,
Topics discussed covered the challenges of scaling up successful science businesses, the development of sustainable science parks to attract global talent, the role of the private sector in the development of healthcare estates and the opportunity in the UK for the development and growth of AI technology. On the day of forum, the UK government announced that Culham Science Park, in Oxfordshire, would be the site of the first AI Growth Hub.
Culham Science Park stated:
'It’s no surprise that the first AI Growth Hub has been announced here at Culham, home to the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Placing the new Hub near an organisation central to fusion energy, which promises to generate the vast amounts of energy needed to power AI models, makes perfect sense.
'Investment in R&D is a cornerstone of the strategy. Here at the Innovation Centre, we are nurturing the fusion talent of the future and combining this with the AI talent of the future will create a powerful synergy. This aligns us perfectly with these national objectives and puts us at the forefront of the UK’s AI revolution, supporting innovation and contributing to the country’s goal of becoming a global AI superpower.'
Tim Bestwick of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, added:
'Culham science park is at the beginning of its journey, though it has four decades of government work on fusion energy behind it. The UK genuinely leads on fusion energy globally. A whole load of things need to happen to turn world leading science research into a viable industry, though with Culham as the hub of commercialisation where all kinds of businesses work together and thrive. the ambition is to bring out the best of the clustering effect.
'Harwell is an excellent example of the private and public sectors working alongside each other.. I have been involved in Harwell for fourteen years and I was very sceptical to start with but it has brought out the best qualities in both sides. We want to do something along those lines at Culham, which is smaller. We will have to involve private investment capital. How do you match these two sectors together. We need to match this with appropriate new tenants. The train connections are very useful and a huge advantage. Of the 2,500 people who work at Culham, many don't want to use cars, so use cycles.'
Image: Bradfield Centre, Cambridge Science Park, at night (courtesy of Trinity College Cambridge)
Cutting emissions from car exhausts has been a major concern and objective among outer city science parks in the UK. Director of the Cambridge Science Park, Jane Hutchins, commented on investment plans for new transport infrastructure to and from the campus and described the shape of the park, which was one of the very first to be developed in the UK - by Trinity College Cambridge - and which has a global reputation:
'The park is 150 acres, 60 buildings, 170 companies ranging from tiny start-ups to the likes of Microsoft. Traditionally people see Cambridge as being life sciences in the south - on the Biomedical Campus - and technology companies to the north, on the Cambridge Science Park. That has changed. We almost have a 50 / 50 split between life sciences and technology and the disciplines are blurring with convergence.
'In the pandemic five new buildings - some by Scott Brownrigg - replaced numerous old sheds and structures, which is part of the regeneration investment by our owner Trinity College Cambridge. The UK government is on board but the economic growth comes with real challenges on providing the supporting infrastructure. However, we are wedded to making this growth inclusive and the park is open to pedestrians and cyclists. The whole of our quarter of Cambridge is poised for significant growth and this is partly predicated on moving the waste water treatment site, but the DCO has been deferred until April. This is holding up growth.'
'Somebody said to me 'Cambridge is a safe place to set up a risky business'. There are lots of new businesses being formed - some from ARM, some from AstraZeneca, others from the University and outside - and we have four buildings dedicated to that stage of development, curated for support. Out latest building - plot 440 - has been designed with scaling businesses in mind.'.
Image: CGI of commercial life sciences office space at Hartree, courtesy of Pilbrow & Partners
Cambridge has additional science developments which are being designed to accommodate a range of businesses. Tim Fry asked Pilbrow & Partners' Associate Phil Earley to describe the Hartree development on the north east fringe of the city which is close to both the Crown Estate's regeneration of the Cambridge Business Park and to the Cambridge Science Park::
'Hartree is 50 hectares of brownfield land and we are responsible for first stage of development which will be 60% lab enabled space and 40% commercial offices. We are very interested in how lab buildings can become part of a rich urban tapestry, as has been achieved at The Crick at King's Cross St Pancras. Hartree will become a new piece of city.
'One of the challenges with science buildings is making the ground floor space active - sometimes difficult when you need lots of heavy plant for life sciences at ground level. It's important to put science on show, if you can, as happened partly at the Crick. It is worth looking at the science buildings in Stockholm which can be be much more public facing. We think you can provide a shared atrium in these commercial buildings, though, which can retain some privacy but welcome others in.'
'What we are interested is the internal workings and programming of these speculative life sciences buildings, so that companies taking space there can engage with other tenants who share the building. At Hartree we like to provide privacy but also a collaborative heart. It's important to have a rough idea of who the occupiers will be. You must ensure that the building has a high level of fit-out but also flexibility. It must also address the issue of carbon emissions.'
Pilbrow & Partners have also designed and delivered a brand-new workspace for Bicycle Therapeutics which includes four CL2 wet labs in addition to associated write-up, administration and collaboration spaces. It describes the project:
'The Portway Building at Granta Science Park in Cambridge was constructed in the 1990s and spans over 8000 square metres. Functionally, the laboratory spaces were able to be modernised with limited change to their basic configuration. The break-out spaces, however, required greater intervention.
'P & P’s proposals removed a dense grid of compartment walls to increase the flexibility of floor plans, and open connections across the shared workspace and between floors. The bright and lively resulting space encourages easy interaction and discussion between colleagues.
'Bicycle believes that the social dimension of work and the workplace’s ability to foster collaboration are essential to their innovation and future success.'
Image: Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton, Greater London, courtesy of BDP
Dominic Hook, Architect Director and healthcare expert at BDP joined the discussion and commented on how healthcare estates are, in some important places, transforming to include the private sector as occupiers and tenants:
'Healthcare in the UK has been plagued by short termism and operating without master-plans. What often happens is that a hospital trust will get to the close of a financial year and then has to 'use it or lose it' on funding so there will be a rush that creates lots of single and two storey buildings that do not fulfil site potential.
'The Oak Cancer Centre development for the Royal Marsden (now called the London Cancer Hub) in the borough of Sutton was the first time I have gone to a local authority planning team and they have said 'go taller!' Let's make the best use of the asset. The local council effectively encouraged us and the hospital trust to add more space, and an administration building was added.
'Can you get some private sector investment to get more space and fulfil the development potential of the the site? Land is valuable so let's capitalise on the potential in healthcare care estates with some commercial spaces, and having a more open mind. Why couldn't the building be more multi-tenanted, for instance?'
In BDP's recent news on designing new science and research buildings, the firm along with the University of Hertfordshire, has celebrated the completion of its new state-of-the-art building, Spectra, home to the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS). Designed by BDP, Spectra marks a significant milestone in the University's commitment to advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research. The £63 million building, located on the College Lane campus, opened its doors for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Spanning five floors and standing as the largest structure on campus, Spectra is a cutting-edge facility that consolidates the University's departments of physics, engineering, and computer science under one roof for the first time. The 15,000 sq m building offers world-class resources, including high-tech laboratories, collaborative workspaces, and industry-leading equipment. These features are set to significantly enhance the University's teaching and research capabilities, allowing staff and students alike to explore new boundaries in STEM disciplines.
New facilities include dedicated robotics and cyber security laboratories, the latest in aeronautical and automotive simulators, wind tunnels and areas designed to accommodate destructive testing of experimental structures. From autonomous vehicle design to cyber security challenges, the building is designed to provide hands-on experience, preparing students for real-world careers.
At the heart of BDP’s multidisciplinary design is the creation of an environment that promotes collaboration. Visible research and teaching areas, communal workshops, and adaptable spaces have been strategically integrated to encourage interaction between students, staff, and researchers across disciplines. This approach aligns with the University's vision of transforming the student experience by offering practical learning opportunities and nurturing a sense of community.
The building’s façade design draws inspiration from Hertfordshire’s rich aeronautical history and the University’s heritage. The use of corrugated metal on the main facades pays homage to the legacy of the local De Havilland aircraft manufacturing company and its hangars. Complementing this, brickwork matching the tone of the campus’s Main Building has been incorporated into the ground floor plinth and cores, creating a visual link between past and present. This brickwork also provides an important wayfinding tool and lends a human scale to the building’s edge, anchoring it within the campus environment.
The building also supports the University’s goal of strengthening ties with local and national businesses. By accommodating specialist laboratories and enabling industry partnerships, Spectra will contribute to regional economic growth and address the UK’s critical skills gap in STEM sectors. It is designed not only to serve as a hub for academia but also to become a focal point for innovation and enterprise across Hertfordshire and beyond.
Future Cities Forum is very grateful to Tim Fry of Arup for leading such a thought provoking science campus discussion and to the contributors for their insights. Part three of our Oxford 'Science Cities' report with Professor Chas Bountra, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at Oxford University will be published next week.
Image below: second panel discussion of Future Cities Forum's 'Science Cities Oxford' with Tim Bestwick of the UKAEA speaking
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