Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford

Led by a world-class faculty of scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators, the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford delivers scaled solutions to humanity’s important problems.

By combining science, technology and commercial insight, EIT aims to build ethical, sustainable companies that create meaningful, lasting impact around the world.

Their interdisciplinary programmes drive impact across four focus areas: Health, Medical Science and Generative Biology, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change and Managing Atmospheric CO2 and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

The new research and development campus will feature 2 million square feet of cutting-edge research laboratory and office spaces. It covers the development of The Oxford Science Park and Littlemore Campus, including Littlemore House and Littlemore Brook.

The Oxford campus will further current partnerships in the biotech and technology communities, as well as supporting EIT’s strategic alliance with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars. Never before has such a breadth and scale of activities been co-located within the bounds of a single Institute, providing real opportunities to drive interdisciplinary problem solving.

Our experts have been at the heart of this transformative project. Our experts were appointed by Laing O’Rourke as the Design Integrator for RIBA Stages 3, 4 and 5 of the project, providing expertise across over 20 engineering disciplines, from structural, building services and facade engineering through to sustainability advisory. Additionally, we worked closely with EIT to secure a shared public/private funding commitment with the UK Government to the Cowley Branch Line upgrade to open up new growth opportunities locally and nationally.

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Location

Oxford, UK

Client

Ellison Institute of Technology and Laing O’Rourke

Architect

Foster + Partners

Project Status

Expected completion by 2027 for first phase. The Oxford Science Park redevelopment projected completion by 2032.

The Ellison Institute of Technology is a first-of-its-kind research and development facility, one that has never been delivered before in scale, ambition or complexity in the UK. Its pioneering design has posed unique considerations, requiring innovative thinking and seamless collaboration. WSP share our ambition to implement better industry practices in design management and as one of our preferred design partners, their collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this visionary project to life.

Rob Cooper Project Leader for Ellison Institute of Technology, Laing O’Rourke

Rob Cooper Project Leader for Ellison Institute of Technology, Laing O’Rourke

Engineering a place for world-class research to flourish

Littlemore Brook and Littlemore House are connected via the Woodland Walkway, a 250m long elevated pathway that will allow scientists, technologists and other staff to move between each facility. With its position above a historic burial ground, landscaped woodland and proximity to a Network Rail line, the architecture, engineering and construction have been reviewed and carefully planned to navigate these site constraints.

Malcolm Davidson, Head of Structures, South, WSP in the UK and Ireland, says: “Our structural engineering experts embraced the opportunity to employ a kit-of-parts approach to optimise the number of elements manufactured and built off-site for the project. We undertook extensive modelling to rationalise and limit the number of bespoke elements in the design enhancing the architectural aesthetic. This not only reduced the number of vehicles and labour on-site but also achieved exceptional build quality and streamlined the construction programme.”

Beyond this, our specialists proposed replacing insitu reinforced concrete structural frames with precast concrete MMC products to limit construction traffic on-site. Glue-laminated timber (Glulam) has been utilised to create the striking geodesic dome structures for the ‘Nest’, located adjacent to the centre of the Woodland Walkway span, and the observatory hall in Littlemore Brook.

Key targets

BREEAM rating

Excellent

Part L improvement

>40%

Our sustainability experts worked closely with the project team to conduct a Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) to accurately measure and report on project carbon emissions for RIBA Stages 4 to 6. This followed the RICS v2 methodology, reflecting the latest industry standards and 2050 decarbonisation targets for the UK.

To support this, we used the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology’s (CWCT) facade methodology and our in-house FaCE tool to calculate carbon in the facade. Additionally, the CIBSE TM65 methodology was used to measure the embodied carbon of building services, with TM54 utilised to evaluate operational carbon.

At the Ellison Institute of Technology, we’re engineering a campus designed to create a catalyst for change. From the precision of the elevated Woodland Walkway using a kit-of-parts approach, to the utilisation of FaCE to measure carbon in the facade, every detail has been carefully planned and coordinated to achieve the client’s vision. We’re proud to be involved in the construction of this industry-leading science facility that not only enables innovation but inspires it, where brilliant minds can collaborate, discover and ultimately improve lives.

Paul Thomas WSP Project Director for Ellison Institute of Technology, WSP UK and Ireland

Paul Thomas WSP Project Director for Ellison Institute of Technology, WSP UK and Ireland

Unlocking a key pathway to growth

Working very closely with EIT, we helped to secure a shared public/private funding commitment with the UK Government to the Cowley Branch Line upgrade. A relatively small but crucial rail link, running adjacent to the Oxford Science Park, this upgrade not only gives EIT's 7,000+ projected future staff direct access to the campus by rail, but also strengthens the potential for thousands of additional new homes and jobs to the south of Oxford.

The Cowley Branch Line has been closed to passengers for more than 60 years. Its delivery, in parallel with wider EIT investment, will help to ease local congestion and promote sustainable travel. Two new stations will be built, with one directly serving EIT, that will connect commuters to central Oxford in just 10 minutes. This vital link will boost the long-run appeal of EIT for talent based locally and across the wider UK.

Rachel Skinner, UK Director of Government Relations and Corporate Responsibility, WSP in the UK and Ireland, explains: “In the case of the Cowley Branch Line, we were able to advocate for EIT, given their visible commitment to strategic growth in Oxford, using our understanding of UK Government decision-making and senior connections at national, regional and local levels. We look forward to supporting EIT further to turn this funding commitment into real-world connectivity, at pace."

Looking ahead, reimagining The Oxford Science Park

We’re continuing to support the Ellison Institute of Technology with the next stage of their pioneering programme of work, shaping the redevelopment of The Oxford Science Park. We’ll be working closely with EIT, Foster + Partners and the wider project team to assess the current site, comprising a mix of established laboratories, active research facilities and new buildings, and integrate these into a future-forward research and development campus that bridges The Oxford Science Park and Littlemore.

We’re proud to support EIT on the next phase of what is a transformative project. Drawing on expertise across more than 14 specialisms, we’re helping shape a research and development environment that strengthens the UK’s innovation capabilities. As EIT evolves its campus vision, we’re working alongside them to create a place that puts ‘science first’ approach as the focus of the project and designed for interdisciplinary collaboration – one that brings people together and supports a human centred, holistic approach to healthcare and technological progress.

Manu Dwivedi Planning and Development, WSP in the UK and Ireland

Manu Dwivedi Planning and Development, WSP in the UK and Ireland