Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, The University of Warwick

by Hawkins\Brown

Client The University of Warwick

Award RIBA West Midlands Award 2024

This new 7,000 square metre building is set within the University of Warwick’s existing campus topography. It houses two primary research functions with markedly different spatial, servicing and environmental requirements: wet labs, and write up, seminar and other research space.

The architects have therefore designed the building as two sections, with labs and lecture space in an environmentally stable precast concrete frame, and non-technical and sociable spaces within a glulam (glue-laminated timber) and cross laminated timber (CLT) frame. The two elements join seamlessly, echoing the ambition of bringing the uses together to foster collaboration and the breaking down of siloed working habits.

The laboratories are not purely clinical but offer elements of delight, including through their carefully placed vertical windows that provide natural light and also far reaching views with seasonal change. The sociable spaces have a softened feel, with a choice of environments to support learning diversity.

Contractor Willmott Dixon

Structural Engineer Stantec

Environmental / M&E Engineer Hoare Lea

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Mace

Landscape Architect BD Landscape

Interior Design Hawkins\Brown

Project Management Turner and Townsend

Delivery Architect The Fairhurst Design Group

Planning Consultant Turley

MEP D&B Contractor Hawkins\Brown

Gross internal area in m² 7,091