The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is seeking a contractor to build a new advanced research centre at its campus in Garston, Watford
The Open Innovation Hub will sit on the site of the redundant 1960’s office block, Building 4, which is set to be demolished.
BRE plans to create a national and international centre for research and innovation in emerging sectors such as digital, connected and smart built environment.
Honing on Modern Methods of Construction, the Government’s Industrial Strategy ‘Building a building fit for the Future’ makes a clear statement about driving innovation through both R&D investment and procurement to accelerate the shift to digital and offsite construction
The four-floor 35,000 sq ft Open Innovation Hub building will offer high-quality development and SME acceleration space to facilitate collaboration between the research base, large firms and knowledge-intensive SMEs.
BRE aims to see the £10m build project achieve a BREEAM outstanding target on the Shell and Core. It is expected to take a year to complete and once finished it will create 150 high-value jobs and attract 25 new firms to the Enterprise Zone.
