Begbroke Innovation Accelerator Building official opening

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Professor Ian Walmsley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University

SRA Architects were very pleased to attend the official opening of the Begbroke Innovation Accelerator Building on 17th March, marking the conclusion of work to provide additional adaptable office and laboratory accommodation for Oxford University’s Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE).

In collaboration with the University of Oxford and Beard Construction, the new building design used innovative fast-track construction techniques and took just 33 weeks from laying the foundations to completion. The purpose built extension doubles the CIE’s capacity and completes Phase 1 of the pioneering Begbroke Science Park redevelopment.

Nicola Blackwood MP, Minister for Public Health and Innovation and John Rich, Partner at SRA Architects, Bath

Prior to the official opening, Professor Ian Walmsley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University,  spoke of the importance of Begbroke as part of the ‘spine’ of world-class research parks close to Oxford.  He said that Oxford University had a proud history of spinning off successful technology business, and that the new Accelerator building was exactly the type of research accommodation such start-up research companies needed.

Nicola Blackwood MP carried out the official opening.  Nicola had previously visited Begbroke Science Park with former-Chancellor George Osborne when he announced the grant of funding for innovation infrastructure as part of the Oxford City Deal.  She said she was pleased to see the funding well spent.

Begbroke Science Park is unique as the only science park in Oxfordshire wholly owned and managed by Oxford University. The interaction between industry and learning is constantly producing new collaborations, and it’s exciting to see these offices, workshops and laboratories helping start-ups and small businesses develop partnerships for the future.

“It has been a pleasure to work with teams from a range of different sectors to bring this building to completion in such a short space of time. Working at the forefront of science, technology and innovation has been an exciting process for SRA Architects. ”
— Fiona Smith, Project Leader at SRA Architects