Hanging plants and circular lights adorn a modern office setting above a long wooden table with black chairs, surrounded by greenery, creating a natural, airy ambiance.

Our Projects

Sphere Bio

Sphere Bio provides ground-breaking research using single-cell analysis technology for biopharmaceutical discovery. As part of a two-stage project, we worked with the client to plan, design and build a multi-functional space, to bring together teams from various locations, as well as creating flexibility to accommodate for future growth.

  Plan  |  Design  |  Build  |  Furnish

  13,832 Sq Ft

  Granta Park, Cambridge

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Bringing teams together to create a sense of community

Sphere Bio places high importance on employee wellbeing so the communal spaces were a key part of the brief, to foster collaboration and increase productivity. From the welcoming front desk and relaxing reception space flooded with natural light, to the feature staircase which leads down to the main communal spaces and the variety of casual meeting spaces, the scheme was meticulously planned to meet the diverse needs of the team. But in our humble opinion it is the kitchen and town hall area, opening out onto the green spaces, and featuring clever planting to continue the natural theme, which truly sets this design apart.

Tailoring lab design to meet human needs

Not all labs are white! After meeting with the team behind the research we realised that we could have some fun with the lab spaces too – devising a concept that allowed the teams within each lab to choose a vibrant paint colour to add warmth and personality to the lab spaces. We also created a calming and comfortable breakout space, to serve as a write up area and a welcome break from the more clinical lab environment.

Providing flexible and consistent finishes

The furniture and layout of each space needed to be carefully considered to meet the needs of the lab technicians. Many of the cabinets, drawers and even work benches installed have been placed on castors allowing for flexibility in the use of the floor space and designated zones. Fine detail was considered in the choice of specified flooring, finishes, and handles to keep a continuous and consistent look for all the labs.

Wooden tables with hanging plants and light fixtures above in a modern cafeteria setting, featuring blue cushioned benches, black chairs, and large windows showing outdoor greenery.

Hanging plants and circular lights adorn a modern office setting above a long wooden table with black chairs, surrounded by greenery, creating a natural, airy ambiance.

Bringing the Outside In

Floor to ceiling windows deliver uninterrupted access to natural light and an enviable view of the green spaces at the Granta Centre. Our design team drew inspiration from the natural environment when selecting colours, furniture and materials, as well as biophilic installations, as part of this stunning office and lab transformation.

Overcoming challenges safely

The complex requirements for air handling meant that we had to install a new air handling unit, as well as a new ventilation riser from the ground floor up to the roof plant deck. This included engaging with a structural engineer to design and remove large sections of concrete slab and carrying out temporary works design, as well as managing the stringent health and safety requirements that come with mechanical and electrical installations.

Navigating existing occupants

Conducting major building works in an occupied, multi-tenant building is never easy so our project team had to consistently manage any potential risks. This included planning around access restrictions, controlling noise and managing building services to reduce any impact on neighbouring businesses.

The Specifics

  • Bold and significant new kitchen / breakout space
  • Several open-plan offices
  • Formal and informal meeting areas
  • Impressive reception
  • Boardroom
  • Chemistry labs
  • Mass Spectrometry Lab
  • Microfabrication lab
  • Production lab
  • Quality Control lab
  • Workshops
  • Logistics area

The project team

Meet some of the team that brought this office and lab project to life….

1184

kg of furniture was diverted from landfill

1254

kg/CO2 e in carbon savings

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