The University of Reading – Health and Life Sciences is a four storey building purpose-built for teaching and research and the winner of the “Innovation in Delivering Value” award at the Education Estates Awards 2021, an award that recognises innovation that has helped contribute to value in the design of learning spaces.
A ‘superlab’ occupies the ground floor, being used for teaching undergraduates, and can seat 280 students at once, around the bespoke islands benches supported on our Premium Exemplaire C frame and Column ranges, fitted with sliding cabinets under, stainless steel sinks and epoxy sinktops. The spine shelving above the workstations provides not only additional storage for items when not in use, but also houses the electrical and gas services, which are easily accessible but don’t restrict the working surfaces in any way. All worktops are manufactured from the chemical-resistant Trespa Toplab Plus.
Another two spacious and equally impressive lab areas can be found on the first and second floors, while smaller laboratories and preparation rooms are spread over the 3rd one.
IPS stations fitted with aluminium corner profiles for a smart finish, as well as our SpaceSaver working walls that provide storage solutions were supplied as part of the laboratory furniture package.
S+B UK worked closely with Stride Treglown and Balfour Beatty in delivering the bespoke furniture systems for the scheme.