No illusion as The Optic lab and office hub makes progress

As well as being given early access to the building, Cambridge City councillors heard from leadership at building contractor, SDC, Peterhouse College and British Land.

Due to complete in February 2025, The Optic will form a core element of Peterhouse Technology Park’s offering, boasting over 95,000 sq ft of high-specification office and lab-enabled space.

The site, which has been developed by British Land, is set to become a hub for science and tech businesses, with significant flexibility of floorplate layout built-in to ensure that the site is able to accommodate the needs of dynamic and fast-growing businesses.

Lying to the south east of Cambridge city centre, The Optic will provide a base for organisations looking for a prime location within one of the UK’s most prominent innovation, research and development hubs.

Given the Golden Triangle location, The Optic will also provide firms with access to one of the UK’s strongest talent pools, as well as a broad network of fellow tech, science and R & D innovators. Among the other occupants at the Peterhouse Technology Park are semiconductor leader, Arm plc.

Working in collaboration with architects Scott Brownrigg and contractor SDC, British Land has developed The Optic to the highest sustainability standards and is targeting an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating – a widely-recognised assessment system used to evaluate buildings’ environmental performance.

The building will be fully electric, host 94 EV charging points and have solar panels fitted to the roof. Significant consideration has also been given to the impact of the development process and building’s carbon footprint with upfront embodied carbon optimised through the use of recycled materials.

The Optic will also prioritise occupant wellbeing, having been designed to include dedicated spaces for calm reflection and relaxation, including more than 2,500 sq ft of roof terrace space for socialising and enjoying the Cambridgeshire scenery and a picturesque nature trail around the site.

Gareth Roberts, Head of Development for Innovation and Life Science at British Land said: “Our topping out ceremony at The Optic marks a significant milestone in the development of what will be an important centre for innovation and forward-thinking in Cambridge.

“It’s been exciting to finally be able to show off the site’s enormous potential to increase economic activity in the local area, as well as demonstrate to local stakeholders what a best-in-class platform looks like.

“Our work on The Optic forms part of our broader science and technology strategy and our circa 2m sq ft pipeline of science and technology space across Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, London, Bath and Guildford.

“Demand for lab space in Cambridgeshire is significant. Many of the world’s leading tech and life sciences firms are right here on our doorstep and we need to ensure that we’re providing them with the space and facilities that they need in order to be able to grow.”

As part of the development at The Optic, British Land has also commissioned a new, permanent piece of public art. Artist and sculptor, Nathaniel Rackowe, is working on the piece, which will reflect the building's position as a leading hub for innovation, tech and science.

Set as a landmark beacon to welcome visitors, the perceived shape and mass of this highly optical installation will evolve and shift on approach, creating a dynamic and seeking dialogue between viewer and sculpture.

Referencing Scott Brownrigg's architectural design, the parallel vertical planes of steel are designed to trap colour and reflection, moving upwards as the work bisects the open rolling landscape.

As part of the inspiration process and to help refine the design, Rackowe worked closely with pupils at nearby Fulbourn Primary School. As well as learning about the concept of public art and what a career in art and design entails, students provided their feedback and unique perspective on the concepts for the installation itself.

The session was facilitated through Greater Cambridge Shared Planning’s “Youth Engagement Service” which helps bring education and learning into the built environment sector.

Rackowe, said: “Having grown up in Cambridgeshire, with ongoing family links to the area, I'm also delighted that the sculpture will form the focus for a community workshop with Greater Cambridge's Youth Engagement Services, feedback from which will be fed into the final design of the work.”

Letting agents for The Optic are Bidwells.