The Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH) is a science-led national resource with a mission to enable and add value to outstanding new science that benefits, and benefits from, the UK’s Central Facilities.

Based on the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, it provides a mix of research hubs, individual groups and facilities that fall within the physical, life and laser sciences for about 180 permanent and more than 500 visiting researchers per year, mainly focusing on Energy Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, Catalysis, Structural Biology of infectious disease and a cross cutting Correlative and Integrated Imaging. Two stakeholders, Science & Technology Facilities Council and Diamond Light Source, strategically allocate their own space.

Conveniently located next to the Diamond Light Source (DLS), the UK Neutron Source (ISIS), the Central Laser Facility (CLF) and the Electron Microscopy Centre, the new 2-storey extension is designed to increase the R92 by 280sqm, with flexible open plan laboratory space on the upper level and the ground floor built initially as a ‘shell & core’ space with view to convert to a laboratory space in the near future.

Scale and appearance of the extension have been based on the contemporary aesthetic and the proportions of the main building so as to appear seamless, with metal cladding and large areas of glazing shaded by brise soleil.

The extension will enjoy plenty of sunlight owing to the southern aspect, and the adjacent existing laboratories will benefit from both borrowed daylight and visual connectivity via the retained glazing between spaces.