Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Forming part of the Tay Cities Deal, the new Life Sciences Innovation Hub provides 54,000 square feet of flexible incubator and grow on space for spin off and spin-out companies from the University’s world leading School of Life Sciences. 

Spanning three floors, the new accommodation is structured across two wings flanking an impressive central atrium which serves as the building’s social hub. Designed for visitors to access the Hub without journeying through laboratory or office space, it also fosters opportunities for chance meetings and potential collaboration as well as providing a flexible event space.

The office/dry lab and laboratory spaces each occupy a dedicated wing and share the same modular design principles, allowing for flexible and scalable usage and accommodating teams ranging from a single user to dozens.  A cluster of laboratories are interlinked and can accommodate chemistry and biology research with support facilities all within one module. Configurable footprints give flexibility to accommodate the tenant's specific needs and growth and are supported by shared central facilities and specialist equipment such as NMR facilities. Co-location with the existing school of life sciences provides access to a range of specialist technology platforms.

Unusually, the facility completed fully equipped with laboratory fit-outs. This ‘science ready’ offering combined with continued access to facilities from the adjacent University of Dundee provides the perfect ecosystem to nurture the start ups as they grow, establishing a true incubator environment.

Science is visible through glazed laboratory doors and internal windows, allowing natural light to penetrate all spaces while sightlines are carefully positioned to protect intellectual property.

Sustainability is woven throughout the building’s design, delivering an exemplar project which showcases the University’s drive towards their net zero strategy. It's orientation optimises daylight and solar gains, reducing overheating and minimising it’s carbon footprint. A post tensioned concrete frame reduces the amount of concrete required for construction whilst maintaining the performance criteria for lab spaces.  The building fabric significantly exceeds minimum airtightness and insulation standards to achieve superior energy efficiency and better occupant comfort. A cutting-edge ground source heat pump system uses a network of shallow boreholes arranged under the building footprint. This technology, originally designed for North Sea oil heat extraction, now operates as a clean renewable energy source for the building. 

Health and wellbeing considerations informed every stage of design. High-performance acoustic treatment, glare control, air quality and user comfort are prioritised to support productivity. Finishes and layouts reduce visual fatigue and promote a calm, focused atmosphere.

Public art will feature in the development including the refurbishment and re-installation of an existing local sculpture, 'The Tall Ships', previously held in storage by the City Council.  Combined with a colonnade which creates a welcoming public space at the building’s front, it creates a strong sense of place and arrival.

The completed hub is a vibrant, adaptable space that supports scientific innovation, forecast to support eight hundred new life sciences jobs and deliver a significant £190million of benefit to the local economy by 2053.