Cambridge Research Park

Cambridge Research Park located 5 miles north of Cambridge is a former brownfield site acquired by Slough Estates in May 2000 to create a new generation of 'out-of-town' workspace on a business park of 45 hectares with planning consent for 56,000 sqm of office/research and development accommodation and a 150 bedroom hotel and associated park facilities. The park also includes a 16 hectare nature reserve.

The brief was to produce a range of modern, flexible buildings in a high quality parkland setting. The buildings provide a range of different types of space and are designed to be able to adapt and respond to ever-changing workplace demands. The parkland setting provides an environment where high standards of landscape design, low development densities and the creation of wildlife habitats combine to create a strong and memorable sense of place. Amenities and business support facilities are provided in the Boardwalk Centre, which has a café/bar, a shop, conferencing facilities, and a customer care and support facility.

The 7000 buildings formed part of Slough's first phase of development, which included the main park infrastructure, the 1000 building and the Boardwalk Centre. It has a total gross area of 8,727 sqm with the accommodation being provided in four separate buildings. Whilst the buildings were designed to exploit the views over the park and the surrounding farmland, they were also positioned to screen views of the adjoining industrial estate on the northern boundary.

The buildings have an elegant, simple, well-proportioned aesthetic. The floor plates are clean and clear with good floor to ceiling heights, they are legible and have a light and open feeling. The buildings have been designed to project an image of quiet success which will stand the test of time through the combination of good materials, understated design and attractive workspace.

The brief for the 7000 range of buildings was to provide accommodation for small and medium sized companies and they were designed to engender a sense of community and the growth of a 'small business village'. Buildings 7100 and 7200 have central cores and each building can be sub-divided into eight separate lettings. 7300 provides a terrace of four units that if required can be divided horizontally. Whilst 7400 is also equally capable of sub-division, it has a superb site and has been designed to exploit the stunning views over the park, and adjacent lake as well as into Willow Wood. Buildings 7100, 7200 and 7300 are linked with a canopy,which provides shelter and solar shading. The canopy physically and psychologically links the buildings and it is anticipated that over the life of the development, businesses will start in one building and grow into space in another. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the type of space provided and the high level of connectivity between buildings will encourage a symbiotic clustering of businesses.

Cambridge is a world-class research centre, and life science/biomedical