Mace secures major contract for Oxford’s life sciences hub

Mace has been awarded a £184 million contract to deliver the next expansion phase at The Oxford Science Park, The Daubeny Project.

This landmark project will see the construction of three new state-of-the-art laboratory and office buildings, further cementing Oxford's position as a world-leading centre for scientific innovation.

The expansion will add 400,500 sq ft of premium laboratory and office space to the park, addressing the critical demand for high-quality facilities in the thriving life sciences sector.

The Oxford Science Park is majority owned by Magdalen College, Oxford, and is at the heart of its strategy to support discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Image: Scott Brownrigg

The new buildings are designed with sustainability and occupant well-being as primary considerations, featuring biodiverse landscaping, extensive photo-voltaic energy generation and optimised building orientation for natural light and energy efficiency.

Mace, in collaboration with the client and the design team, has been working to ensure that sustainability translates into the build, using innovative ground engineering solutions that will save around 3000 tonnes of embodied carbon. The facades will also be the largest use of recycled aluminium for a stick curtain wall project in the UK, saving over 500 tonnes of embodied carbon.

These solutions demonstrate Mace's ability to add value beyond traditional construction services and deliver its vision to build sustainable communities.

Rory Maw, CEO of The Oxford Science Park, commented: “Mace’s knowledge and expertise in large-scale construction projects will be crucial to helping us deliver The Daubeny Project, our most ambitious development to date.

“These new high-performance laboratory and office buildings will offer much needed space for life science and biotech companies to scale and allow them to benefit from being located at the heart of Oxford’s thriving innovation ecosystem.”

Robert Lemming, Managing Director, Public Sector and Life Sciences, Mace Construct said: “The Oxford Science Park is home to some of the most forward thinking and innovative companies, and these new cutting-edge facilities will help unlock ground-breaking research that people will rely on for decades to come.

“As our population grows and ages, more sites like these will be needed to meet the pressing demand for high-quality laboratory space, and at The Oxford Science Park we are setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability.”

The project, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2026 is expected to create numerous job opportunities while strengthening Oxford's reputation as a hub for scientific discovery and innovation.