We worked closely with SDC Builders on this design and build scheme for the Histopathology department at Addenbrookes Hospital (CUH) in Cambridge. The fourth floor fit out of the new build B1 class laboratory and office followed the completion of the shell and core of 1000 Discovery Drive in late 2023, as part of phase 2 of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The project created office/write up areas, meeting rooms, and extensive laboratory space, incorporating around 30 fume cupboards along with down draught benches. The purpose built 2,200m2 facility has been designed to streamline workflow and improve the turnaround of samples returned to pathologists. The floor plate also offers flexibility to support future expansion.

Dedicated plant zones are incorporated to house end user’s own services such as fresh air plant to offset the increased extraction demands of the fume cupboards and benches. We connected to the base build shell and core infrastructure for general ventilation, heating, cooling, power, and other specialist packages.

A key challenge involved the coordination of services through the ceilings with some very large fume extract arrangements at 950mm diameter and vast configurations of complex M&E services typical of high specification science facilities. With no false ceiling, the design incorporates runs of acoustic vertical rafts and linear luminaires to maintain a clean and coherent visual line. Interesting features include a modular wiring system for small power distribution, enhancing ease of installation and future adaptability, as well as work benches equipped with high level service plates that can be easily reconfigured to suit tenant needs. Notably, the scheme also benefits from the world’s first pumped formalin system for a facility of this type, significantly assisting productivity by eliminating the need for staff to manually fetch and carry five litre formalin vessels to and from workstations.

Histopathology plays a crucial role in providing a comprehensive range of histological and cytological pathological services, encompassing routine and specialist tissue examination (including immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy), diagnostic screening of body fluids and aspirates, and coroner’s post-mortem autopsies.

Designed by Scott Brownrigg, 1000 Discovery Drive is a versatile five-storey multi-occupancy building offering approximately 11,000m2 of office and B1(b) laboratory space. It sits within Europe’s largest campus of life sciences and medical research, home to leading organisations across academia, industry, research, and health.