This year, Cambridge Innovation Parks Ltd (CIPL) intends to create one of the first fully sustainable business campuses, focusing not just on construction and operation but leading sustainable approaches such as carbon off-setting and well-being provision.

CIPL is challenging the industry to help it build commercial office space using offsite manufactured timber units because it is unsatisfied with the feedback it has received about this being difficult to achieve and expensive. The offices required are open plan spaces of 2,000-8,000ft2 as offsite manufactured units for assembly onsite.

Through this competition CIPL hopes to hear from like-minded innovators who specialise in the production and provision of offsite timber that can be applied to a commercial project setting.

CIPL is fully committed to sustainability. Its intention is to create one of the first fully sustainable campuses, focusing not just on construction and operation but leading sustainable approaches such as carbon offsetting. Incoming tenants are encouraged to contribute to the sustainability of the campus through research and business activity.

The CIPL North site is targeted to be a zero-carbon site by 2030. This is in response to the International Panel on Climate Change Report published in October 2018 and ahead of the UK government policy which requires zero carbon economies by 2050. This includes incorporation of a range of sustainability standards on an integrated basis, including operational and embodied energy and carbon cost modelling, life cycle assessments, use of bio-based, locally sourced materials and reviewing community impacts.

“I would like to see cost parity between traditional carbon intensive building systems and new innovative low impact systems to meet the urgent zero carbon challenge,” said professor John French, director of development and sustainability, CIPL and fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.

“Solutions need to be practical and scaleable and suitable for the commercial letting sector to adopt and in time to address the climate emergency. This is an important challenge that we are setting from the business and science park community and I look forward to the response from the sector.”

The CIP North site has been operating successfully since 2012. This site currently consists of two buildings; Blenheim House and Stirling House which are now at full capacity. CIPL is in the process of submitting a masterplan planning application for the site, which comprises the provision of three new buildings, associated car parking, cycle parking and landscaping.

What CIPL Needs

CIPL is a pioneer of bio-based construction as an important path to its zero-carbon target.

Therefore, it is vital that the timber units reflect the organisation’s commitment and are produced with low embodied carbon. The offsite characteristic of the timber units encompasses important aspects of the design such as modularity, scalability, adaptability and life cycle duration. Circular economy is a core principle to deliver a sustainable long-term solution.

Stimulating collaboration between forward thinking companies in the construction industry is a priority for delivering these premium office spaces and CIPL wants to be at the forefront of adopting new processes.

The ethos of the chosen organisation must align with the CIPL principle of only working with ethical partners and suppliers to foster innovation.

Evidencing previous experience in sustainable projects is an important ability as is being able to demonstrate how experience from delivery in other built environment sectors can be used in a commercial spaces solution.

This brief is open to both UK and EUbased organisations, however, it is essential that the products can be locally sourced, manufactured and erected in the UK – if not now then inspired to do so in the future.

Aligned with carbon parity is cost parity and respondents will need to estimate costs. The organisation must be financially stable and capable of providing a supply and delivery with adequate mitigations for scenarios for the pandemic and Brexit.

Times for the delivery and lead in are not restricted but must be known in advance of March 2021 when the next CIP North project is programmed to be procured.

CIPL has a preference towards working with an organisation which:

  • can work under a turnkey contract;
  • the solutions can avoid wet trades and have integrated services;
  • has relevant experience case studies, though innovators and start-ups are also encouraged to respond;
  • highlights the aesthetics of timber in the interior;
  • and can span large areas to negate the need for columns.

If you are inspired by the challenge, to access the response proforma please contact Eleanor Turner Eleanor.turner@bregroup.com