HOK wins London 'super lab' project

The firm was named preferred bidder this week to draw up plans for the UK Centre for Medical Research & Innovation, which will be located behind the British Library in King’s Cross.

Arup, Turner & Townsend and Adams Kara Taylor are also part of the winning design team.

The building, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014, aims to become a world-class centre where scientists can undertake cutting-edge research. It will also provide training to future generations of medical scientists.

The centre’s science planning committee chairman, Nobel prizewinner Paul Nurse, said the building would help the UK maintain its lead in medical research.

“HOK will play an important role in helping us to create a building that will attract the world’s best scientists,” he said. “This country is already a leader in medical research and this project plays a fundamental role in our ambition to consolidate and build on that position.”

HOK director Andrew Barraclough said the firm was delighted to have been chosen to create an environment in which scientists could realise “paradigm-shifting” medical breakthroughs.

“This facility has the potential to have an extraordinary impact on the wellbeing of our global population,” he said. “Our goal is to create an intelligent building that delivers the benefits of research and innovation to the patient.”