From History to Cutting-Edge: A tour of Victoria House
From History to Cutting-Edge: A tour of Victoria House
Oxford Property Group, a seasoned player in the Life Science sector with an impressive portfolio of over 5 million sq ft worldwide, recently partnered with us on their exciting new project, Victoria House.
Situated in London's vibrant Knowledge Quarter, this historic Grade II listed building is set to become the hub for established players and promising rising stars in the Life Sciences arena. Join us as we explore the remarkable 300,000 sq ft of cutting-edge spaces that will soon house the future leaders of the Life Science industry.
A Sensitive Transformation
With its iconic presence on Bloomsbury Square, Victoria House enjoys a rich history, heritage, and exceptional architectural beauty. However, inside, a sensitive transformation is underway to create a one-of-a-kind ecosystem for London’s Life Sciences and Technology start-ups and scale-ups. The stunning atrium is at the heart of the building creating a memorable first impression.
Fostering Innovation and Expertise at Victoria House
With a rich history as the birthplace of genetic science and ecology, this location has been home to numerous pioneering institutions. It offers a unique environment for individuals to learn, network, and commercialize science. In essence, this is where aspiring entrepreneurs can connect with experienced venture builders. To further support this ambition, Victoria House offers expertise in areas such as finance, M&A, international markets, IP, supply chains, scale-up leadership, and talent management.
Functional and Inspiring Laboratories
From fitted and managed incubator space to CAT A laboratories, companies will be able to adjust floorplans for bespoke fit-outs and operations. Among the features, Victoria House offers six air changes per hour and up to 65% CL2 laboratories. If, like us, you didn’t know what CL2 laboratories were, you’ll be pleased to learn that the renders of laboratory facilities resulted from a close collaboration with our clients and Ph.D. students on everything from floor plans to the placement of various tools and items. To attract a discerning audience we took no shortcuts, making sure the spaces look equal parts functional and inspirational.
Preserving Elegance, the Long Room’s Original Interiors
Featuring original wood-panelled interiors, The Long Room is one of the most impressive meeting rooms. To efficiently create a visualization of the room, we decided not to invest time in modelling all the details. Instead, we used a photo and enhanced it with AI, meticulously matching all the people into the image with the utmost attention to detail.
Sustainability Beyond Green
Oxford and Pioneer have joined forces with top ESG specialists to enhance the operational efficiency of Victoria House, aiming for EPC A and BREEAM Excellent certifications. Their strategy involves electrifying the entire building using an innovative air-source heat pump system, implementing variable air flow systems to curtail energy usage, modernizing the central infrastructure, incorporating smart meters, and actively promoting biodiversity on the premises.
But sustainability goes beyond the ecology and the physical environment. Victoria House has put programmes and policies in place to welcome people from all genders, backgrounds, identities, and physical abilities, including Ada Lovelace Day, which increases the visibility of women in STEM.
Continuing the legacy, Victoria House will bring together today’s thought leaders to help build a better tomorrow, and we couldn’t be happier to have played a small part in the history of this impressive institution.
Thank you and J2 and Pioneer Group for a great collaboration!