Mace completes new AstraZeneca facility ‘The Hub’ to support life sciences community in Cambridge

Mace, the global consultancy and construction company, has completed its latest project for AstraZeneca on the world-famous Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Providing valuable facilities and services to both employees and the public, The Hub is set to become a new centre for health, wellbeing and support services that aims to enhance the lives of the campus community, contributing to a more productive and healthy work environment.

The building was handed over at an official ceremony with Rob Bridges, Project Director at Mace Construct, Andrew Smith, Executive Director - Special Projects, AstraZeneca and Caroline Durkin, Head of Cambridge Operations, AstraZeneca present.  

With an internal floor area of 3,666m², the project includes a comprehensive environment designed for relaxation and reflection, incorporating a café, bar, shop, fitness centre, treatment rooms, health screening and occupational health services, a nursery and preschool, and a garden.

The Hub was constructed using an exoskeleton concrete frame, inverted roof and a combination of Accoya timber cladding and curtain walling for the façade. 

Embracing sustainability from its conception, the new Hub facility is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating. Notably, the project saved 5 tonnes of CO₂ through the reuse of excavated soil and incorporates 260 photovoltaic panels to enhance energy efficiency. 

Standout features also include a box-in-box system for acoustic separation in the studios and sprung floors for optimal auditory performance, and by leveraging learnings from decades of delivering complex projects across the globe, all of AstraZeneca’s specifications were met in a short timeframe.

Robert Lemming, Managing Director, Public Sector and Life Sciences, Mace Construct said: 

“The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is a centre for the UK’s and Europe’s flourishing life science industries, making a significant contribution to research and development. 

“Supporting all the people that contribute to the Campus community and beyond to thrive and perform their vital roles, AstraZeneca’s newest building ‘The Hub’ will provide important services for their health, wellbeing and productivity.”

The completion of The Hub follows Mace’s successful delivery of AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre. A state-of-the-art global research and development facility located in the heart of the Campus. Designed to the world’s highest environmental standards, it accommodates over 2,200 research scientists and features the most advanced robotics, high-throughput screening and AI-driven technology.

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is the largest employment site in Cambridge, with a 17,500-strong community of healthcare professionals and research scientists. It provides world-class biomedical research, patient care and education on a single site.