ARC’s Lumen House

Lumen House is a standalone laboratory building at Harwell, providing self-contained R&D accommodation for one or two occupiers.

Harwell is part of the Advanced Research Clusters (ARC) network- home to a federation of leading science and technology organisations and facilities.

Delivery of RIBA Stage 4 detailed design for two high-quality office and laboratory suites, combining flexible lab space, modern workplaces, inclusive design, and a refreshed building exterior.

Our task:

To undertake RIBA Stage 4 detailed design to deliver two new office and laboratory suites, each with a 60:40 laboratory/office split. Each lab area comprises an open main lab with four support or functional rooms with dedicated goods access, a new goods lift, and infrastructure for future fume cupboards and lab gases.

Offices were delivered to a high standard with meeting rooms, breakout space, and 24 desks. The building received an external refresh, including removal of the existing glazed entrance lobby, installation of a smaller new lobby, and black-spray-painted window frames, doors, fire escapes, and soffits.

All new toilets—including showers, DDA facilities—and a communal quiet room were provided. Neurodivergence was a core design driver, with all spaces, materials, and finishes reviewed by an independent specialist.

The redesign delivers CL2 laboratories and CAT B offices with shared breakout areas.

All building services were replaced, including new MVHR ventilation via façade louvres, heat-recovery VRF cooling/heating, and two LEV systems for future fume cupboards. New tanks provide boosted mains and CAT5 water, and drainage was upgraded with chemically resistant lines for ground-floor labs.

The external plant compound was rebuilt to house heat-rejection plant, water-services plant, and a backup generator. All electrical infrastructure, including boards, LED lighting, and fire alarms, was renewed. Power and data are distributed via ceiling service tiles in labs and underfloor systems in offices.

Specialist gas pipework was installed on both floors, terminating at lab entrances, supported by auto-changeover manifolds, cylinder alarms, and O₂/CO₂ detection for safety.