Developing facilities to meet science’s shifting needs

Science and medical research are advancing at a phenomenal speed. The past decade alone has witnessed scientists cloning human stem cells, creating fully functioning bionic limbs, and completing the first human face transplant. Scientific research is helping people to live longer, and making lives more fulfilling, and is also becoming increasingly important to the economic wellbeing of countries and cities. The UK is currently ranked second in the world for research and development (R&D) innovation, a primary driver of inward investment. Every pound invested in R&D returns 20-30p annually, building a knowledge economy which supports a third of our businesses and pays 40% higher than the average wage.

With such substantial rewards on offer, the competition between countries wishing to lead within this field is fierce. Attracting the best scientists undertaking the most lucrative work depends on providing state-of-the-art research facilities. With science evolving at such speed, this leaves institutions with a significant challenge – how to cater for the ever-changing needs of science, without constantly channelling hefty sums into building renovations, or indeed entirely new buildings. The answer lies in adaptability; creating buildings that can evolve and flex to remain at the forefront of medical innovation. This adaptability is characterised in three of our most recent projects in London, where we have contributed our engineering and project management advice – The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, and Guy’s Cancer Centre. 

The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre