ARC’s Motherlabs

Advanced Research Clusters (ARC) is Europe’s leading network of science and innovation clusters home to over 300 organisations where the focus is on building collaboration and fostering creativity. ARC clusters create the best possible environments for innovation to make a difference in the world.

We were tasked to create Motherlabs a science accelerator offering a range of fully fitted incubator and accelerator labs for early-stage science, technology, and innovation businesses, designed to help prospective tenants with their bespoke needs.

The creation of compliant (CL2) laboratories, a shared utility area and the associated office/write-up rooms on the Ground floor of the Waterfront building.

With an ever-increasing demand for laboratory space across London, ARC trusted Bulb to design and deliver a brand-new incubator facility at their ARC West London, riverside facility.

We created eight independent units with adjacent laboratories and offices, ranging from 750 sq. ft - 1500 sq. ft in size. All the units were designed with connecting doors between to allow ARC’s members to take multiple units or expand in the future. Labs were equipped with access control, vinyl flooring, fixed and mobile benching, laboratory grade gases, perimeter electrical trunking, laboratory ventilation, vulcathene drainage and Cat 5 water protection making them perfect labs for containment level 2 life sciences research.

A shared utility room, containing most regularly needed equipment such as an autoclave, dishwasher, water purifier, and ice machine, was created. A ducted fume cupboard was installed to support companies that handle chemical material and solvents. An external LN2 tank storage space was created for safety purposes.

Motherlabs fully fitted and managed private suites and write up spaces have a flexible lease structure, shared facilities, and dedicated lab manager, to help get its members up and running quickly, grow sustainably, innovate, and move ideas from concept, to lab, to commercialisation at pace.