Foster + Partners has unveiled renderings for a new scientific research and development facility design located in Oxford, UK.

The project to establish a new home for the eight-year-old Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) comprises a 30,000-square-meter (323,000-square-foot) central research laboratory, oncological wellness institute, and restoration of existing buildings. Its creation positions the institute, which also operates out of Los Angeles, for better collaborations with Oxford University and the city’s biotech and technology industries. The EIT says it will also aid with the launch of its new Ellison Scholars program, which was initiated earlier this year.

The scope of its design entails connecting the restored single-volume Littlemore House to new pavilions located at the easternmost edge of the site in order to create a larger C-shape footprint surrounding a landscaped courtyard that’s built over a sunken 200-seat auditorium and culminates in a central water feature for gathering. 

A new building will then be constructed on stilts over Littlemore Brook and located at the southern edge of Oxford Science Park. It will be topped by an all-wood geodesic dome that harkens to Norman Foster’s early mentor Buckminster Fuller and creates further space for collaboration among scientists. The firm also said that landscape architect Fernando Caruncho will be overseeing the restoration of outdoor spaces that connect the two plots in order to further enhance the well-being of patients and staff.

"A primary objective of the project is to break down barriers between researchers, scientists, clinicians and patients, creating a human-centred and holistic approach to healthcare and technological innovation," Norman Foster said in a preview.

The EIT is targeting both BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum accreditations for the construction. Foster + Partners says they expect the project to be completed by the end of 2026.