Buro Happold was named Best Engineering Consultancy at the 2025 Life Sciences and Research Clusters Awards, recognising our pioneering work throughout the UK’s key science and expertise clusters, the place we proceed to ship world-class buildings and ecosystems that encourage collaboration and drive discovery.
The judges counseled the entry with excessive reward, stating: “A very strong and impactful entry, underpinned by a robust and diverse portfolio spanning both new-build and retrofit projects. The submission clearly demonstrated measurable benefits, with quantifiable evidence of impact across its work. Particularly impressive was the practice’s influence as a specialist discipline, with meaningful contributions to key sector initiatives such as the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard and the Labs2Zero programme, highlighting its leadership and commitment to driving progress across the industry.”
The submission clearly demonstrated measurable advantages, with quantifiable proof of influence.
Comment from the judges
An exemplary venture that we highlighted is One North Quay, which is Europe’s tallest laboratory constructing. Designed with cutting-edge MEP, sustainability, and laboratory planning methods, this vertical campus units new benchmarks for vitality effectivity and collaboration. Through progressive HVAC methods and a distributed MEP technique, the constructing is likely one of the largest all-electric lab services on this planet, attaining a 50% discount in projected embodied carbon.
Proven influence and sustainable outcomes
Our work with the Francis Crick Institute exemplifies our strategic strategy to sustainability. By creating a strong Net Zero Carbon pathway aligned with UKGBC frameworks, we helped the institute obtain a 20% discount in carbon emissions and an 8% drop in vitality consumption over 4 years.
We’ve additionally maintained a 100% planning success charge throughout main tasks, together with Vitrum, District East, and Cambridge Science Park, demonstrating our means to navigate advanced planning environments with precision and collaboration.
From integrating multi-parametric sustainability frameworks at 440 Cambridge Science Park to designing energy-positive labs like One Helix, our use of rising applied sciences continues to push the boundaries of what’s doable in life sciences infrastructure.
Our dedication to sustainability is embedded in every part we do, as mirrored in our 2024 Global ESG Report and our energetic position in shaping {industry} requirements by way of initiatives just like the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard and Labs2Zero.
Through collaboration with shoppers, architects, contractors, and {industry} our bodies, we’re creating areas that assist scientific progress and environmental duty.
Richard Walder, Partner
Richard Walder, Partner at Buro Happold, stated: “This award is a testomony to our intensive work and influence within the Science and Technology sector, spanning new builds, fit-outs, refurbishments, and advisory providers throughout tasks of all scales. It additionally particularly acknowledges our industry-wide contribution to sustainability in laboratory design.
“Through collaboration with shoppers, architects, contractors, and {industry} our bodies, we’re advancing engineering finest practices and creating areas that assist scientific progress and environmental duty.
“We’re honoured to receive this recognition and remain committed to delivering engineering solutions that shape a more sustainable, innovative future for life sciences.”