Sheppard Robson wins the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine



Sheppard Robson has been appointed to design the Centre for Regenerative Medicine for the University of Edinburgh. The new £35m centre located on the Royal Infirmary/University's Little France campus will attract scientists from around the world by providing facilities to develop new approaches towards prevention and treatment of debilitating diseases through innovative research with stem cells.

The project will translate the attributes of stem cells and its ability to transform into a variety of other tissue cells. The nucleus of the scheme, the proposed central support area, acts as the stem cell which via a series of connecting bridges (the 'arteries') converts into the functional laboratory buildings ('tissue').

Dictated by their function and Little France campus masterplan the laboratory buildings enclose two sides of the site providing a strong frontage to the primary access road of Little France Drive, whilst the hub of the development, the flexible central support building housing write-up spaces, meeting areas and a library, provides a more dynamic, yielding space. The elevation towards the central water adopts a less rigid approach and incorporates a café at lower level, encouraging greater interaction between the central water feature and users of the campus.

The highly serviced wings consist of a standard laboratory space and testing area, stem cell research area with ultra clean rooms and commercial laboratory space and are defined by either vertical or horizontal facade treatment, while the central atrium space oversails the link bridges into the hub and acts to passively support the environment outside of the highly services laboratories.

The design team includes structural and service engineers Buro Happold, planning supervisors Turner & Townsend and landscape architects Ian White Associates.




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Sheppard Robson is an international practice providing architectural, urban design, town planning, masterplanning and interior design services. With more than 65 years experience, it is one of the largest practices in the UK with over 300 people in established offices in both London and Manchester. Voted Sustainable Designer of the Year and Interior Design of the Year the practice enjoys a reputation for excellence in design and professional service, with extensive expertise in almost every development area.

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