Cardiff University Plans Innovation Central

Cardiff University will begin construction in September of 2018 on the £50 million Innovation Central facility in Wales in the United Kingdom. Designed by Hawkins\Brown to promote collaboration between academic and industry partners, the 129,167-sf project will include the SPARK social science research hub and a business incubator with shared spaces, labs, and serviced offices. Offering 30,000 sf of commercial space including 5,400 sf of wet lab space, the facility will feature the Oculus, an interactive staircase with breakout zones on each level, and the Play Box, a flexible auditorium for events and seminars. Completion is expected in 2021. The project team includes general contractor Bouygues, structural engineer Jacobs, and MEP engineer ARUP.