University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory
Oxford, UK

Project outline
New 16,000m², six-storey Chemistry Research laboratory including Organic, Inorganic, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Departments.
Core accommodation includes 48 laboratory modules, each containing up to 8 fume cupboards, associated write-up space and dedicated areas for equipment sensitive to vibration and electromagnetic interference.
In addition, an associated three-storey office building and atrium meeting space are provided.
Contract value
£43,000,000
Key features
- Two-storey deep basement adjacent to existing Grade II listed building requiring specialist construction techniques including diaphragm walling and ‘top down’ construction.
- Extensive computer modelling of ground conditions for different phases of construction to predict effects on adjacent buildings backed up by continuous monitoring of buildings during the excavation process.
- High degree of architectural/structural/building services co-ordination.
- Suspended glass facades and roof to atrium.
- Reinforced concrete frame superstructure incorporating flexibility for first and second-generation service holes.
- Extensive magnetic shielding incorporated into the building fabric.
- Spring mounted isolated floors to accommodate vibrationally sensitive equipment.
- Provision for 400 variable volume fume cupboards.
- Centralised variable volume supply and extract systems using diversity to reduce plant size and energy consumption
- Central variable volume heating and chilled water installations.
- Local specialist gas and central liquid nitrogen installations.
- Roof and basement plant rooms.
- Process cooling systems.
- Two stage tender procurement route.
Appointment
- Structural
- Geotechnics
- Building Services