Walter Lilly recently completed works on the QM BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in Whitechapel for Queen Mary, University of London, constructed using a two stage Design and Build contract.

This state of the art facility provides a lecture theatre, freezer stores, offices, meeting rooms and cafe area.  The upper three floors of this five storey building form the Innovation Centre and have been designed specifically for start up high technology companies in the bioscience and clean-tech sectors.

Internally the concrete columns have been polished and left exposed, incorporating them into the design of the building.  Externally the building features a 13m cantilever, supported by a structural steel raking system, with the steels weighing in excess of 1 tonne per metre.  These were craned in and erected in a heavily restricted space due to the proximity of neighbouring buildings. 

Two facades are clad in a unique Brass rain screen and structural glazing, which was manufactured in Italy and attached to a timber backing with tight tolerances. Particular attention to detail had to be given to its erection over the cantilever.  The remaining two facades are clad in a unitised glazing system above the ground floor.

The building has a strong focus on environmental sustainability.  Measures have included a green roof, PIR taps and lighting and the use of sustainable timber for cladding rather than metal.

The site was on a very restricted area with shared and narrow access for the new building.  Our Planning Engineers considered the logistics of the site and a site layout plan was developed prior to commencement of construction to ensure that shared access was maintained for all users.