Oxfordshire Tech Foundry 3, Harwell

Project Overview
Tech Foundry 3 is a completed 70,000 sq ft speculative mid-tech development delivered by Glencar at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. Constructed to a shell specification, the development provides highly flexible accommodation capable of supporting a wide range of future occupier requirements, including mezzanine installations, clean rooms, flue systems, advanced manufacturing processes and multi-level office environments.

Located at Tech Edge West, Curie Avenue, the scheme forms part of Harwell’s continued expansion as a leading centre for science, technology and innovation within the Oxford–Cambridge corridor. The project represents Glencar’s third successful development for Harwell, further strengthening a long-standing partnership and reinforcing Glencar’s established expertise within the life sciences and advanced technology sectors.

Project Requirements
The client required a robust and adaptable mid-tech facility capable of supporting a wide range of future occupiers with varying technical and operational needs. Flexibility was central to the brief, with the building designed to accommodate complex internal configurations and specialist installations while maintaining long-term resilience, sustainability and operational efficiency.

Alignment with Harwell’s ESG ambitions was also a key driver, with targets focused on low-carbon construction, future energy performance, biodiversity enhancement and integration with the wider campus sustainability strategy.

Glencar’s Role
Glencar was appointed as Principal Contractor under a Design and Build contract, responsible for the full delivery of the project from enabling works through to practical completion. Responsibilities included management of design coordination, programme delivery, logistics planning, sustainability integration and stakeholder engagement within a live science and innovation campus environment.

Scope of Works
Enabling Works & Groundworks
Construction commenced with a six-week enabling works phase, including extensive cut-and-fill operations, ground stabilisation and installation of pad foundations to prepare the site for long-term resilience and adaptability.

Building Construction
Delivery of a 70,000 sq ft steel-framed mid-tech development utilising recycled-content steel, standing seam roofing systems and high-quality curtain walling. The shell specification provides maximum flexibility for future tenant fit-out requirements.

Building Fabric & Structure
Delivery of a high-performance building envelope designed to support future specialist uses, including clean rooms, flue systems, mezzanine floors and heavy-load equipment installations.

External Works & Landscaping
Implementation of external infrastructure including visitor parking, EV charging provision, hard and soft landscaping and site enhancements aligned with Harwell’s wider ESG and campus sustainability objectives.

Technical & Delivery Challenges
Delivering a highly flexible mid-tech development within an operational science campus environment required careful coordination of logistics, programme sequencing and stakeholder interfaces. Early consideration of future tenant fit-out requirements was critical to ensure the structure, foundations and building fabric could accommodate specialist installations without compromise.

Delivery Conditions Addressed
Live science and innovation campus environment
Programme-driven delivery including enabling works phase
Future-proofed structure for specialist occupiers
Coordination with wider campus infrastructure and ESG objectives
Delivery of a flexible shell specification for future tenant adaptation

Sustainability & ESG
Sustainability formed a key component of the Tech Foundry 3 development. The project has been delivered in line with BREEAM Very Good standards, with a strong emphasis on reducing embodied carbon through the use of recycled steel content and efficient construction methodologies. The development incorporates EV charging infrastructure, sustainable landscaping measures and a sawtooth roof profile designed to accommodate future solar PV integration. The flexible shell specification supports long-term adaptability, helping to extend the building lifecycle and reduce the need for future carbon-intensive alterations.

The Outcome
Now complete, Tech Foundry 3 provides a highly adaptable, future-ready mid-tech development that supports Harwell Science and Innovation Campus’s position as one of the UK’s leading centres for science, research and innovation. The project demonstrates Glencar’s ability to successfully deliver flexible, sustainability-led developments tailored to the evolving needs of life sciences, advanced technology and research occupiers.