Construction and engineering firm Ramboll has teamed up with Wates Group to launch the white paper, ‘Speed to market: Life sciences buildings’, arming developers with the knowledge and insights for designing and constructing life sciences buildings.

With the UK Government prioritising funding in the life sciences sector as part of its ambition to make the country a “science superpower” by 2030, the market for specialist buildings is set to grow rapidly, making now the right time for development. However, the specific requirements for these specialist buildings can make the market challenging, particularly for newcomers.

Against this background, the new white paper sets out the key principles and priorities for design and construction of life sciences buildings to help developers avoid potentially costly errors. These include key location characteristics and types of spaces; how to ensure flexibility and help futureproof laboratories; standardisation of laboratory design brief and construction methods; the necessary regulation; and learnings from other sectors.

The guide draws on both Ramboll’s and Wates’ experience in designing and constructing science buildings, such as the University of Oxford Life and Mind Building, the Quadram Institute at Norwich Research Park, and the Basingstoke Pathology Laboratory.

Commenting on its launch, co-author Rebecca Mortimore, UK science sector co-lead at Ramboll, said: “With the current focus on development within the life sciences sector, speed to market is becoming a critical factor for developers, particularly for new entrants that may not be familiar with life sciences’ requirements. However, it also provides a major market opportunity for those that are ready to tackle the challenge, and this white paper is designed to provide a roadmap for those looking to do that.”

She added: “We know that constructing science buildings can be a complex process, so our white paper helps simplify the life sciences sector’s language and rules, so that developers understand how to get the design and construction right, first time.”

Co-author Jamie Young, principal design manager at Wates, added: “As an organisation that has been involved in the life sciences sector for many years, we’re keen to share the knowledge we’ve gained working on landmark projects across the country to help more developers come into the market. We understand that it can be very daunting for potential new players to get involved, given the huge investment that can be required.

“If the UK is to realise its ambition of becoming a ‘science superpower’, we need to be getting the most talented people developing the assets we’re going to need. The buildings we design now are going to be defining the future of science, not just in the UK but across the world. We hope this white paper will go some way to bringing more talented, and creative people into our sector.”