Since it was established by Trinity College in 1970, the Cambridge Science Park has played a pivotal role in Cambridge’s transformation from a market town with a world-class university to one of the leading technology hotspots in the world.
Cambridge Science Park spans over 150 acres, providing 1.7 million square feet of high technology and laboratory buildings. It is currently a workplace for 7000 people and over 130 companies, ranging from exciting start-ups to some of the world’s leading technology businesses.
Buildings 1 and 2 form a new gateway to the dedicated technology estate while collectively making up 210,000ft2 of commercial office space. The striking architecture, design and landscaping of Buildings 1 and 2 set the tone for the rest of the Science Park. The buildings sit prominently at the entrance to the Park which provide a truly inspirational location for high-tech R&D organisations to call home.
Tobermore supplied paving of exceptional quality which complements the state-of-the-art buildings. The public realm space between the two buildings features Braemar, Fusion and Hydropave Fusion. The specified paving materials feature a striking granite aggregate surface which adds to the contemporary look of the scheme.
Images by Hundven-Clements Photography
Modern paving was required to complement state-of-the-art offices
Scott Brownrigg’s design aim was to attract the world’s most high-tech companies to the Science Park. The architecture, design and landscaping of Buildings 1 and 2 was key to setting the tone for the tech hotspot. Buildings 1 and 2 form a new gateway to the dedicated technology estate while collectively making up 210,000ft2 of commercial office space.
The two-building design spans four storeys tall and showcases a striking colonnade. The cladded feature columns provide an impressive new entrance to the park, while echoing the curve of the spine road.
Buildings 1 and 2 offer a dedicated pedestrian and cycle area. The public realm space between the two buildings required extensive paving which complemented the state-of-the-art buildings.
The client’s primary objective was to remove existing, dated buildings and replace them with state-of-the-art facilities for the scientific community. The master plan has sustainability and efficiency at the core of its design.
Tobermore’s high quality granite aggregate paving accentuates the contemporary office scheme
Tobermore supplied paving of exceptional quality to complement the state-of-the-art office hub. The public realm space between the two buildings features Tobermore’s granite aggregate paving in contemporary grey tones.
The dedicated pedestrian and cycle area are paved with Braemar, Fusion and Hydropave Fusion which all feature a striking granite aggregate surface which adds to the ultra-modern scheme.
Braemar offers a premium concrete paving product with aesthetic appeal of natural granite. It boasts a striking, contemporary look while being a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to natural stone.
Fusion made a modern striking entrance to the Science Park. The area required a combination of permeable and impermeable paving. It would take a keen eye to spot where the standard block paving ends and permeable paving starts. Hydropave Fusion and Fusion was applied in permeable and non-permeable format which added continuity to the streetscape.
The new buildings achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The facilities provide a much-needed innovation hub for scientists and graduates, and successfully generated income for Trinity College.
"These buildings not only reflect the exciting vision for the future of the Cambridge Science Park - offering unrivaled opportunities for collaboration, innovation and inspiration - but they also demonstrate the incredible effectiveness of the build team. All the difficulties and restrictions caused by COVID were overcome, without any delay to the build or increase in cost, and the multiple requirements of all stakeholders were met or bettered ahead of programme. An achievement to be proud of."