Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has delivered an m&e package worth £13m for an award-winning science laboratory in Cambridge.
Winner of the 2012 Stirling Prize for Architecture and designed by architect Stanton Williams, The Sainsbury Laboratory is an 11,000m2 two-storey plant science research centre located in the University of Cambridge's Botanic Garden.

It has achieved a BREEAM 'excellent' rating and incorporates a number of sustainable features including 1, 000m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panels and photocell-controlled electric lighting, as well as rainwater harvesting and water monitoring.

BBES faced the challenge of integrating sustainable initiatives and new technology for a building with high energy demands, while maintaining architectural intent. Its comprehensive m&e installation, completed for main contractor Kier, included the installation of fume cupboards, ventilation, chilled water, heating, BMS controls, air conditioning, lighting, power and security systems, as well as the PV panels and photocell-controlled electric lighting.

To minimise the environmental impact through careful waste management and provide a more efficient and safer way of delivering the scheme, BBES used its Modular Systems + facility to deliver and install the plant room and 18 prefabricated risers. These risers contained modules for ductwork and pipework, which form a continuous ribbon around the L-shaped building.

Now complete, the Sainsbury Laboratory will provide a high quality working environment for leading scientists.