IDEAS IN INNOVATION: FUTURE-READY RESEARCH SPACES

Tuesday 12 May 2026

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IDEAS IN INNOVATION: FUTURE-READY RESEARCH SPACES

In the lead up to the Innovation Conference on Monday 18 April, the ‘Ideas in Innovation’ article series showcases the potential of the built environment in driving London’s innovation economy.

Elias Niazi, Director at Niazi Roden, highlights how the recently completed life sciences building ‘Trinity by Breakthrough’ sets the new standard for environmental performance and user experience of an innovation-led scheme.

Project Overview

Trinity by Breakthrough is a next‑generation life sciences building within the ARC Oxford campus, formerly Oxford Business Park, adjacent to the Morris Monument roundabout. The project represents the transformation of a historic industrial estate—once home to Morris Motors—into a world‑class science and research destination supporting innovation in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and genomics.

The client’s ambition was to create a high‑quality, flexible speculative life‑sciences building with wellbeing and sustainability embedded at its core. The scheme was developed in close collaboration with Oxford City Council, key stakeholders, and the local community, including pre‑application discussions and Design Review Panel workshops.

Practical Completion: Jan 2026.

Flexible, Future‑Ready Research Space

Trinity delivers approximately 214,000 sq ft of highly efficient accommodation across six storeys and a basement, with flexible floorplates of up to 40,000 sq ft. Typical layouts achieve an optimised 60% laboratory and support space to 40% write‑up and office space, enabling adaptation from early‑stage research through to established occupiers.

Facilities include CL2 laboratories, research and office accommodation, and a curated range of shared amenities such as a café, wellness spaces, gym, and extensive cycle storage. The basement provides 135 car parking spaces, with 50% EV charging available from day one.

Architecture, Identity and Place‑Making

The architecture balances functional efficiency with a strong sense of identity. Rational rectilinear massing to the rear supports highly efficient lab planning, while a distinctive sinuous curved façade addresses the Morris roundabout, establishing a clear gateway building for the campus. The arrival sequence and internal campus experience emphasise the curved frontage, leading the mind to read the building as fluid throughout, softening the form, while rational, high-performance lab spaces operate behind.

A sculptural green façade with cascading terraces creates “science on display,” celebrating the site’s industrial heritage while presenting a contemporary life‑sciences identity. The building is articulated in three horizontal layers: a living green wall at lower levels, glazed green terracotta at mid‑levels, and lightweight aluminium cladding screening rooftop plant. Active ground‑floor uses animate the public realm, while new pedestrian routes improve permeability and align with future Cowley Station connections.

Sustainability and Environmental Performance

Environmental performance is embedded from the outset through a rigorous, performance‑led design approach. Trinity aligns with LETI guidance, delivering a 45% improvement over Part L and an upfront embodied carbon figure of approximately 765 kgCO₂e/m² (A1–A5).

Key sustainability targets include Net Zero Carbon in construction and Net Zero Carbon in landlord operational areas, BREEAM Outstanding (minimum Excellent), WELL Platinum, EPC A, and a 16% Net Biodiversity Gain. The scheme integrates around 10,000 sq ft of living green walls, 8,000 sq ft of roof terraces and blue‑green roofs, 17,000 sq ft of photovoltaic panels, and rainwater harvesting to support landscaping and living systems. Together, these measures enhance wellbeing, biodiversity, and long‑term environmental performance.

Amenities and Laboratory Fit‑Out

The ground floor provides a welcoming, hospitality‑led arrival experience. Reception, café, flexible event and breakout spaces, and on‑site fitness facilities are seamlessly integrated with essential servicing, loading, and secure car and cycle parking. Operated by Missing Bean, the café has become a lively social hub for building occupiers and the wider local community.

‘StudioLabs by Breakthrough’, comprising smaller laboratory modules on the first floor, are delivered by Niazi Roden with Gensler as the client’s global design team. The spaces provide a flexible, high‑performance environment for early‑stage and scaling research organisations, combining calm, biophilic interiors with shared support spaces and adaptable CL2 laboratories to create a future‑ready life‑sciences workplace capable of evolving seamlessly as tenant needs change.

“Trinity by Breakthrough has set a new standard for our UK portfolio. The team translated an ambitious brief into a building that is highly flexible, deeply sustainable and commercially robust. Their collaborative approach ensured that environmental performance, user experience and delivery certainty were achieved without compromise.” Thomas Renn SVP, Head of Europe