Topping-out for lab-enabled The Optic on Peterhouse Technology Park
British Land has marked the topping-out of The Optic, a new office and lab space at Peterhouse Technology Park, with a celebratory launch event to showcase the building.
The Optic, a core element of the new hub, will boast 95,000 sq ft of prime office and lab-enabled space, and include 94 EV charging hubs and solar power energy options. It is due to be completed by February 2025.
Lying to the south east of Cambridge city centre, The Optic will provide a base for organisations looking for a prime location within one of the UK’s most prominent innovation, research and development hubs. Given the Golden Triangle location, The Optic will also provide firms with access to one of the UK’s strongest talent pools, as well as a broad network of fellow tech, science and R&D innovators. Among the other occupants at the Peterhouse Technology Park are semiconductor leader, Arm plc.
Working in collaboration with architects Scott Brownrigg and contractor SDC, British land has developed The Optic to the highest sustainability standards and is targeting an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating – a widely-recognised assessment system used to evaluate buildings’ environmental performance.
As well as being given early access to the building, Cambridge City Council members heard speeches from leadership at building contractor, SDC, Peterhouse College and British Land. Guests from the council and project team were also invited to sign the development’s final beam before it was lifted to the roof for fitting.
Gareth Roberts, head of development for innovation and life science at British Land, said: “Our topping-out ceremony at The Optic marks a significant milestone in the development of what will be an important centre for innovation and forward-thinking in Cambridge.
“It’s been exciting to finally be able to show off the site’s enormous potential to increase economic activity in the local area, as well as demonstrate to local stakeholders what a best-in-class platform looks like.
“Our work on The Optic forms part of our broader science and technology strategy and forms part of our circa 2m sq ft pipeline of science and technology space across Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, London, Bath and Guildford. Demand for lab space in Cambridgeshire is significant. Many of the world’s leading tech and life sciences firms are right here on our doorstep, and we need to ensure that we’re providing them with the space and facilities that they need in order to be able to grow.”
He added: “The Optic has been designed specifically to go above and beyond on delivering the amenities, facilities and flexibility that we know businesses are coming to demand as standard. It is a real standard-bearer in a location where prospective occupants expect every need to be catered for.”
The Optic is located 2.5 miles from its nearest railway station and benefits from easy access to the M11 and the A14, as well as being served by local cycle lanes and a regular bus service to the front of the park.
As part of the development at The Optic, British Land has also commissioned a new, permanent piece of public art by artist and sculptor, Nathaniel Rackowe.
