engineering.
The project team marked an important moment in the construction of merlin place as the building reached its highest structural point on Wednesday 11 June. The topping out ceremony, hosted by SDC, reflects the progress being made towards delivering a major new laboratory and workspace building for Cambridge’s growing science and research cluster.
Members of the site team, representatives from Kadans Science Partner, and project stakeholders gathered to commemorate the occasion and recognise the collective effort behind the scheme’s advancement. The tradition marks the placement of the final beam at the highest point of the structure and signifies the transition towards the next phase of construction.
SDC board director Andy Shiner emphasised the team’s commitment to high-quality delivery and to supporting Kadans Science Partner in realising its vision for a research-focused facility designed for scientific innovation.
Merlin place sits opposite the entrance to Cambridge Science Park, bringing 13,000 m² of purpose-built CL2 laboratory and office accommodation arranged across six storeys. Designed by HOK for Kadans Science Partner, the building forms part of a rapidly evolving ecosystem of research, technology, and innovation in the north of the city.
Due for completion in 2026, the scheme incorporates a double-height reception, a publicly accessible café, and amenity spaces including a first-floor green roof, upper-level terraces, and a lantern space offering views across Cambridge.
The building’s reinforced-concrete frame, featuring flat-slab floor plates, provides a materially efficient structure that supports vibration performance and simplifies services distribution across the laboratory floors. A shallow raft foundation has been adopted to reduce embodied carbon and avoid basement excavation, making use of the site’s natural topography.
Sustainable design is central to the project, with ambitions including whole-life net zero carbon, BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, and a WiredScore Platinum target. Features such as a green roof, extensive PV array, and enhanced cycle and electric vehicle provision all contribute to Kadans Science Partner’s long-term sustainability goals.
