Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology

Extending facilities for the world-leading Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology to support their ongoing investment in science-based data research.

Client University of Oxford
Sector Research & Education
Size 400m²
Location Old Road Campus, Oxford

We were approached by The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology in 2018, four years after they had moved into their new building at University of Oxford’s Old Road Campus.

After considerable time spent in the space and having expanded their team, the client talked to us about how their needs had evolved and what additional uses would be beneficial.

Based on detailed workplace consultation, we developed designs for a significant 400sqm extension facilitating the Institute’s expansion in translational medicine and data-science based research.

Completed in 2021, our award-winning extension provides dry lab space suitable for bioinformatics and clinical trial management, and space for a substantial increase in staff numbers.

Façade under construction and completed

Jonathan Truslow, Head of Operations, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology
‘Fathom listened to our requirements and worked hard through multiple iterations to develop a solution that met our demanding expectations. They followed this with great attention to detail in the design phase allowing the new space to achieve tighter sustainability and energy efficiency than the base building.’

Understanding a complex workplace

Before turning our eye to the design, it was essential that we fully understood the Institute’s evolving needs so we could support them to grow their team and research.

Following a series of briefing sessions with researchers, scientists and facilities teams – discussing individual and group activities within the building – we gained a thorough sense of what spaces were working well and what was lacking.

After the consultation stage, we and laboratory specialists Novus Space developed a plan to enhance the Institute’s existing wet lab and office spaces.

By making intelligent adjustments to increase efficiency of the original building plan and sensitively adding a new top floor, we created digital lab spaces for 64 additional research staff working on desk-based bioinformatics and clinical trial management as well as flexible areas for meetings, collaborative work and events.

Through careful planning and sequencing, The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology remained in use throughout our works.

Increasing efficiency and climate control

An inherently sustainable façade

Utilising the existing building’s palette of materials, we set out to improve environmental performance to meet ambitious PassivHaus EnerPHit standards.

The façade design of our new extension respects the existing building designed by Make and sought to go beyond the current environmental achievements.

In addition to triple glazing, solid elements of façade were introduced to the west façade, plus external louvres and internal blinds to the south façade.

Working closely with environmental engineers Qoda on the daylighting design, we were able to significantly improve natural light distribution and reduce glare to the new workspaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting and improving the health and wellbeing of the building’s occupants.