CampbellReith has been appointed to provide civil, structural, geotechnical and geo-environmental design services for three large buildings and a multi-storey car park on the latest plot to be developed at the Park. Two of the buildings are seven storeys in height and include twin level undercroft parking areas which will provide a large number of electric vehicle charging points. The third building is five storeys in height and located directly adjacent to the new multi-storey car park.

The site is located partially within a flood zone and the external works levels have been carefully designed to include localised bunding to protect the undercroft parking areas from flooding during storm events. The surface water drainage network utilises SuDS features such as infiltration ponds, swales and soakage trenches to reduce the run-off from the development. The network ultimately discharges surface water to the Park’s on site strategic network which includes lakes and cascaded attenuation ponds before discharging water into a local watercourse at a restricted rate.

A number of existing large diameter strategic Thames Water foul water rising mains traversed Plots 23-26 and these influenced the location and shape of the new buildings as well as the construction programme. These were diverted as part of the re-development works. After the completion of a services trace, the mains were accurately located via intrusive on site testing and the new buildings set out to accommodate the legal easements imposed on the site. A Ground Movement Assessment (GMA) and Ground Movement Monitoring Specification (GMMS) were produced by CampbellReith’s geotechnical team and were approved by Thames Water.

The foundation solution comprises a hybrid post-tensioned concrete raft with piles and rigid inclusions.

The superstructures to the buildings comprise reinforced concrete flat slabs throughout in order to provide a clear route for the extensive services that are required in the laboratory spaces. Reinforced concrete shear walls and stair cores provide lateral stability in conjunction with the floor diaphragms and steel framed roof mounted plant enclosures provide space for plant at the same time as supporting the extensive areas of photovoltaic panels. The multi-storey car park also houses heavy plant at ground floor level, is constructed in hot rolled steelwork and is intended to be a demountable and adaptable structure to accommodate the needs of an ever-changing life science sector.

The project received planning consent in February 2023 with site works commencing in August 2023. All three buildings will be completed and ready for occupation in 2027.

Images provided courtesy of Scott Brownrigg.