Aviva Investors Completes Construction on Life Sciences Facility

Aviva Investors completed construction in April of 2026 on a 56,000-sf life sciences facility in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Located in the Chesterford Research Park, the Sidney Sussex Building houses 10 individual R&D suites that range upwards from 2,245 sf in size and offer wet labs, open office environments, and write-up areas. BCR Infinity Architects designed the flexible structure to be scaleable, providing the ability to combine units to accommodate unique tenant requirements and support growth. With a dedicated electrical plant room on each level, the three-story development features a light-filled atrium and communal meeting venues to promote collaboration and exchange.

The sustainable hub leverages renewable energy sources, including a rooftop photovoltaic array, to achieve EPC Rating A and BREEAM Excellent certification. With 135 pounds of CO2 per sf in upfront embodied carbon, the sophisticated facility is slated to be carbon neutral once operational. The transformative project also contributes to a 24 percent biodiversity net gain through the implementation of wildflower meadows, bird and bat boxes, and wildlife-sensitive lighting schemes.

Glencar was the general contractor with The Churchmanor Estates as developer and Savills and Cheffins as leasing agents. Ground was broken in December of 2023. Sited in 250 acres of parkland, the Chesterford Research Park is expected to increase its footprint to approximately one million sf for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and technology R&D companies, of which an estimated 385,000 sf is currently occupied.