The Inspiration
Spring 2024

In this edition of The Inspiration, we dug into what commercial property tenants are likely to prosper in today's business climate. Read on for a topline summary, two stunning projects, and our learnings from collaborating with scientists & researchers to create the most appealing lab environments.

Follow the money

In a press release it was stated that the UK spring budget is set to put the UK on the fast-track to becoming a science and technology superpower. Among the initiatives listed were:

• £92 million towards life science manufacturing projects
  
  
• £160 million towards the Low Earth Orbit program and satellite communication innovation, a key to offering connectivity and high-speed broadband
  
  
• £100 million towards AI safety and to support the transition to an AI-enabled economy, adding to the £100 million already invested to establish the UK's AI Safety Institute
  
  

Parallel to this Morgan Stanley recently stated that "Increasingly, we are chopping and changing space on quite a regular basis, taking down walls, putting them up again, redoing cabling. So optionality and flexibility within the demise is important for us".

It begs the question, how can we sharpen the way we speak to our target audiences? Let's have a look at Oxford North!

Oxford North - Oxford's new innovation district

When we were invited to create our proposal for Oxford North, by the joint venture between Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John's College, Oxford, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Stanhope, we were elated. The chance to work on a £700 million development, with the ambition to create a thriving science and technology community, as a new and exciting, yet respectful addition to Oxford, was one of a kind.

Oxford, home to the world's second-oldest university, and a renowned destination for research and innovation, is consistently ranking the University of Oxford as the world's best by The Times Higher Education Supplement. While the city is positively brimming with academic excellence, the pursuit of cutting-edge scientific progress requires cutting-edge facilities and so the 64-acre site is set to become a thriving mixed-use destination with 1 million sq ft of laboratories and workplaces for scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators alongside 480 new homes.

Oxford North will also include a hotel, nursery, amenities, three public parks, and significant investment in sustainable travel. It was a joy to work on the visualisations and we pulled out all the stops to get every last detail right.


The first phase of labs, workplaces, homes and amenities is targeting Q2 2025, with subsequent phases coming forward in the future.

We couldn't be prouder to have worked alongside a team of globally renowned master planners, architects, and expert consultants to produce high quality marketing images, that reflect Oxford North's ambitious masterplan, as well as Phase 1 and Phase 2 lab spaces and public realm for science and tech companies.

Client: Stanhope
Master Planners: Fletcher Priest Architects
Architects: Wilkinson Eyre
Architects: Gort Scott
Landscape Architects: Gustafson Porter + Bowman
Brand and communications: Spacecraft Consultancy

THE TYPEWRITER BUILDING

Having undergone a comprehensive transformation, The Typewriter Building now boasts 22,000 SQ FT of contemporary refurbished office space across seven floors.

Originally designed by renowned architects Richard Seifert and William Frischmann in 1956 as the headquarters of Typewriter Sundries Ltd, the building embodied the spirit of modernity with its sleek lines. Reimagined by Cowie Montgomery Architects, it meticulously respects the conservation area with restored staircases and parquet wooden flooring, while unlocking the site's potential through sensitive extensions at the main roof and rear.
The building is targeting net zero carbon and BREEAM Excellent.

Thank you W.RE and Cowie Montgomery Architects for a great project!

Labs labs labs

Scientific breakthroughs, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolving industry dynamics have led to a surge in demand for cutting-edge laboratory facilities and innovation hubs. As the expansion of life science real estate development is now extending to emerging regions and cities the competition is stiffening.

Scientist-Centric Design:
Unlike many companies with common needs like desks, meeting rooms, and breakout areas, the world of science is vastly different. Ensure that the lab supports smart workflows and can adapt to various lab types.

State-of-the-art Facilities:
Scientists can quickly discern a genuine state-of-the-art lab from the rest, mere claims of cutting-edge equipment fall short, showcase expertise by providing specialized labs with features like clean rooms, high biosafety levels, mass spectrometry facilities etc.

IT Infrastructure:
The ability to protect and patent research findings is paramount and thus, good IT infrastructure is indispensable. By providing robust data management and security systems, researchers can better safeguard intellectual property and sensitive research data.

For the full list of how to cater to researchers with real estate - read our blog post. Better yet, get in touch! It would be our pleasure to share our learnings from collaborating with researchers on how best to visualise lab spaces, or discuss your upcoming projects.