Vectura

Location
Bristol
Client
Vectura
Value
£58m
Completion
2025
Size
10,000m2

World-class pharmaceutical life science facility with high performance GMP cleanroom suite, R&D laboratories and wellbeing focused workspace.

 

The Vectura project houses a range of high performance bio-science laboratories and a suite of GMP compliant cleanroom spaces which are essential to the success of this complex, science-driven building.

The resulting design involves an interplay of large span structure, complex plant spaces and a flexible architectural design that has required close collaboration with client and design team stakeholders. The adaptable layout takes into account product innovation with the ability to adjust spaces for sufficient flexibility to suit changing functional requirements.

The design team has worked closely with the client and contractor team to both understand these requirements and to create a workplace which is attractive and welcoming to both staff and visitors. The project is currently progressing into Stage 4.

The design will sit adjacent to Blackwell Common at the Bristol & Bath Science Park, an existing green space which forms the focus for the many of the building’s agile workspaces. The combined landscape and architectural approach is to use this attractive open area to enhance user experience and wellbeing with large windows and vertical shading fins, a planted third floor terrace overlooking the green, pedestrian routes and a nearby amenity space.

A large double height entrance space brings light deep into the building plan and also provides an impressive route into the building. This area will be focused on a balance of hybrid working areas and meeting facilities.

The façade design takes its cues from the nearby Forum building in terms of scale and natural materials, creating a collegiate feel to this central area within the Science Park masterplan. The architectural design and landscape concept were developed through a series of successful Design Review Panel engagements which closely informed our emerging strategy.

A focus on wellbeing

The building design has been developed with Vectura’s ESG standards in mind and meets a high level of environmental performance. The proposals have been designed to BREEAM Excellent standard and are intended to provide a pragmatic, sustainable solution with high levels of insulation, photo-voltaic panels for electricity generation at roof level and an abundance of green roofspace.

Interior spaces have been designed to meet WELL accreditation requirements and there is a real focus on providing and opening onto external amenity spaces. The southern elevation has direct access to an amenity space and a number of outdoor work pods to provide a range of working modes for staff and visitors.

The office, cafeteria and touchdown space will contain a wide variety of different work-modes and will be a central focus for workspaces that are specifically designed to provide a post-Covid, agile working environment.

GMP areas have been designed to suit DSEAR/ATEX brief requirements to cope with cleanroom activities involving fine particulates; these will have an interstitial service void which will allow easy maintenance and plant access. R&D and PD Laboratory areas have been created to accommodate a variety of fume cupboards, isolators, benching and specific analytical research equipment required for this inhalation medicines specialist. Warehouse areas have been designed to accommodate narrow aisle racking and GMP related requirements, including specific temperature and humidity parameters.

The R&D laboratories are arranged around a circular route which allows future flexibility with the ability to move, extend and shorten individual laboratory spaces. We have worked with Vectura’s stakeholders to understand and develop ideas of bench space efficiency, understand future fume cupboard/containment requirements and develop a new strategy which will work with their process flows. The key focus was creating naturally lit, welcoming working environments with a strong connection to the outside world.

The building will be a flagship for Vectura and joins other Stride Treglown projects such as Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) and the National Composites Centre (NCC) already operating successfully at the Bristol & Bath Science Park.