Fossil-free lab building underway at Chesterford

Chesterford Research Park in Cambridge has started construction of an additional 60,000 sq ft of laboratory facilities at its new Sidney Sussex Building.

The project will be delivered by Readie Construction which has been appointed main contractor for the development works and will deliver up to 10 individual, flexible suites spread over three floors, ranging from 2,226 sq ft to 8,409 sq ft.

The building is designed to be fossil fuel free and use renewable sources for ongoing energy needs – including an array of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof – whilst also targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

Each fully fitted wet laboratory suite will include open plan office areas, whilst the laboratory spaces themselves will comprise benching, sinks and fitted fume hoods, as well as heating and cooling systems.

The design has been created specifically with flexibility in mind, allowing suites to be combined to facilitate larger requirements.

The new building will also benefit from a dedicated floor of communal meeting rooms. Externally, the facility will include the provision of a new pond and tree planting, whilst the installation of bird and bat boxes will provide an ideal habitat for wildlife.

The work to expand facilities at Chesterford Research Park follows recent research by Aviva Investors, which highlighted the strong fundamentals and growth prospects for the life sciences sector in the UK and Europe.

Martin Sylvester, Marketing Director, The Churchmanor Estates Company plc – Chesterford Research Park’s development partner – said: “Following the success of the Science Village Building, the Sidney Sussex Building is designed to create an ability for companies to further expand their initial footprint in a flexible and beneficial way.

“It is the first building providing three floors of R & D space with independent services at the Park and further extends the range of early-stage laboratory facilities in a market short of such options.”