We are leading the transformation of the 1970s Beaver House building into Bridge Labs, a next-generation life sciences facility. Initially appointed to conduct a peer review of a previous proposal, we were formally engaged in August 2023 to lead the design of this ambitious redevelopment.
The existing building occupies a gateway site next to Oxford Station and within view of Oxford Castle Mound. It sits at a critical junction between Oxford’s historic core and its emerging commercial district’s more recent urban layers, demanding a design of both architectural clarity and civic responsibility.
The proposal reimagines the site as a cluster of buildings rather than a single mass, breaking down scale and creating permeability. By recessing the ground floor and setting back the upper storeys, the scheme establishes a varied roofline and animated street frontage.
Responding to place
The proposal reimagines the site as a cluster of buildings rather than a single mass, breaking down scale and creating permeability. By recessing the ground floor and setting back the upper storeys, the scheme establishes a varied roofline and animated street frontage.
We designed the building to be experienced at multiple levels – from the street view and key vistas across the city, notably Oxford Castle Mound just a short distance away. From this elevated view, we wanted the roofscape to blend into the city’s natural skyline.
Material choices are informed by local tradition. Handmade red bricks root the development in the city’s architectural vernacular, while contemporary detailing introduces a new layer to Oxford’s evolving urban landscape.
Innovation and wellbeing
With over 140,000ft² of high-performance workspace, Bridge Labs is designed to support Oxford’s position as a leading hub for life sciences. The upper levels will house Category 2 laboratories, while the ground floor will be publicly accessible, with shared workspaces, a café, and a welcoming reception area.
From the outset, we were targeting BREEAM Outstanding accreditation, which we’re on track to receive. The building will also be WELL Platinum enabled, focusing on occupant health and wellbeing.
Passive design strategies, renewable technologies, and low-carbon materials contribute to a carefully considered whole-life carbon profile. We considered its full lifecycle carbon footprint to implement energy-efficient and renewable solutions and significantly enhance the biodiversity on the site.
Civic value
An integral element of the project is the restoration of Boatman’s Chapel, a Victorian building on site with a varied history of uses. Its refurbishment will reinstate it as a publicly accessible community venue, further contributing to the public realm and civic value of the project.
Bridge Labs will offer more than specialist workspace, it will create a local hub for people to collaborate and innovate in a modern environment that complements the city’s history and future. It balances commercial ambition with architectural responsibility, delivering a development that is both respectful of Oxford’s historic grain and confident in its contemporary role.
With a layered approach to placemaking, environmental responsibility and civic value, Bridge Labs demonstrates Purcell’s strength in shaping contemporary developments that enrich historic cities.
'The project will deliver modern, contextual architecture – sympathetic to the historic setting and activating the street scene on this principal route into Oxford city centre.'
