Sir William Henry Bragg building, Leeds University
The Sir William Henry Bragg Building at the University of Leeds unites the School of Physics and Astronomy with the School of Computing.

But with the growing popularity of flexible working changing the use of urban space, developers and commercial property owners have begun to consider alternative options for their real estate assets, with one choice being to reimagine these spaces for scientific research.

The economic drivers for retrofitting existing structures are increasingly evident. Environmental factors, particularly those related to climate change and targets for reducing embodied carbon (emissions created in the creation of a building) reinforce the case for reusing existing assets. Our experts will guide you through strategies to incorporate energy efficient upgrades and reduce waste while optimising lab processes and reducing cost.

The repurposing process

Converting an existing building to accommodate scientific research can require the existing property to perform far beyond its original design. Such a transformation is a puzzle that involves overcoming technical, engineering and planning constraints, backed by insights into laboratory trends.

Fortunately, Arup’s integrated expertise extends into all of these areas. Our structural and vibration specialist engineers draw from a breadth of experience in the commercial and science sector to understand the complex challenges and performance requirements of refitting a space for scientific work. Our experts can assist across the project lifecycle from evaluation and assessment of tenant criteria to operations in practice and design and implementation of all relevant building services.