The Whittle Laboratory

The state-of-the-art facility, set over three storeys of interconnected yet distinct spaces, provides 4,000 m² of workshop, laboratory, research, office and collaboration space, including a 5MW wind tunnel and a flexible high-pressure experimentation chamber. 

We aimed to ensure that the fossil-fuel-free MEP and environmental design follow the principles defined in the West Cambridge masterplan, and that sustainability was embedded in the project from the outset. The design uses the Energy Cost Matrix, developed with Sir David MacKay during work on the University’s Department of Engineering, to prioritise whole-life energy minimisation, operational efficiency and long-term adaptability. 

The building was designed with future climate in mind, with thermal modelling carried out alongside operational energy modelling to mitigate the risk of it becoming uncomfortable during heatwaves. This involved studies to ensure that the office ventilation strategy and the provision of heating and cooling aligned with the goals of achieving a low-energy, comfortable, and upgradeable building. We also addressed the implications of the considerable additional electrical capacity required and how best to manage the large heat load generated during experimentation. Sustainability quality control was ensured via the BREEAM certification process, and embodied carbon was monitored up to the commencement of construction. 

The building incorporates air-source heat pumps with future provision for connection to Cambridge West’s district energy network, rooftop solar generation, a high-performance self-shading façade that balances daylight and cooling loads, and the reuse of materials from demolition, including reclaimed raised floor tiles and low-carbon steel elements. 

In addition to the testing and workshop areas, the design supports a mix of offices and open-plan areas for collaboration, with longevity and flexibility in mind to evolve with the changing future of research. The atrium, an important community space, maintains excellent light levels due to sawtooth rooflights, and the majority of office spaces are naturally ventilated. 

Acoustic design was an important part of the planning process, addressing the challenge of managing noise from loud test facilities and ancillary mechanical plant equipment within a building housing various types of work areas. Acoustic separation between noisy test spaces and other occupied areas, extensive acoustic panelling within the atrium and work and social spaces helped create comfortable environments for events and the exchanging of ideas. Structural measures such as thick floor construction were used to manage vibration. 

Together, these strategies support a research environment designed to advance the technologies for a net-zero future while reducing the building's impact. We have been appointed to conduct post-occupancy evaluation (POE), which will help ensure that the building is operating optimally.