Paving the way for innovation at Imperial College

ISG’s latest scheme with world-renowned higher education institution, The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, has featured in a recent feature for the industry trade publication, Concrete Monthly.

Costing £90m and set to be the latest addition to Imperial College London’s White City Campus, The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub is a new 23-acre district dedicated to research and innovation in science, engineering, medicine and business.

Designed as a collaborative facility, the hub will provide space for Imperial’s world-leading researchers, engineers, scientists and clinicians to work alongside one another to address some of the most pressing biomedical and healthcare problems of our time.

The case study (link) focuses on the creation of the 14-storey arrow-shaped facility and its concrete frame structure; a key design element that would not have been possible without a £40m gift from Sir Michael Uren – one of the highest ever donations made by an alumnus to a London University.

The building’s concept design pays homage to Uren’s passion for concrete, which is provides a striking external façade and internally will remain exposed, acting as a central showcase of the building’s form and function.

Inspired by DNA strands, the exterior façade consists of concrete fins made famous by their unique white colour.

Using ground granular blast-furnace slag, a sustainable substitute for Portland cement and pioneered by Sir Michael, the by-product of blast-furnaced iron ore, coke and limestone offers much better physical and sustainable properties.

Imperial's President, Professor Alice Gast, said: “The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub is a game-changing facility that will help us rise to some of society’s greatest healthcare challenges.

"We will show what is possible when engineers, medics, policy-makers and the public collaborate on solutions to these problems.

“Our alumnus and friend Sir Michael Uren is a visionary philanthropist and we’re so grateful for his support.

"The work carried out in this building will enable people of all walks of life to live full and active lives. We will all be thanking him for decades to come.”