New commission - feasibility study for a university bio-incubator building
Easy adaptability, clear servicing strategy and good value were the three criteria that the client set for this new 4,000sqm research building. Prior to selecting an architect they carried out their own research to find a good example of the type of building they were seeking. Before approaching us, they had paid two visits to our research building at Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park and discussed the design and use of the buildings with the University.
The laboratory buildings at Begbroke are regarded as being some of the most innovative in the UK in the way in which their design responds to regular and unexpected change of use. The building type is known as ‘open’ or more helpfully as ‘adaptable’. It recognises that it is better to design for easy future flexibility than to design a building that is optimised to the initial use. The challenge with ‘open’ labs is how to accommodate the heavy services installation. This is the problem that has been cracked at Begbroke. Here is a link to a 10 minute video which explains how the Begbroke buildings work: www.stubbsrich.com/openbuildings
