Birmingham, UK
Completed:
2025
Architect:
Sheppard Robson
Contractor:
SISK Contractors
Product Used:
Exemplaire C Frame System, Heavy duty workstations, Height Adjustable Workstations, IPS, Pedestal
The Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) is the University of Birmingham’s flagship life sciences innovation facility, developed in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech.
Designed as a Category 2 wet and dry laboratory environment, PHTA occupies the top three floors of the building and provides grow-on space for ambitious SMEs, spin-outs and scale-ups working across biopharma, medtech and precision medicine.
PHTA forms part of Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC), the only science park in the region dedicated to health and life sciences. Co-located with academic and clinical partners, the accelerator supports collaboration between industry, researchers and healthcare specialists within a connected innovation environment, accelerating the development and commercialisation of new diagnostics, therapies and medical technologies.
SB Labs was specified for the laboratory furniture package across the wet and dry laboratories and key shared amenity spaces, including autoclaves, sample stores, glasswash facilities and cold rooms.
Working closely with Sheppard Robson architects and SISK Contractors from the early stages, we manufactured and installed laboratory furniture that met the technical and compliance requirements of high-performance Category 2 laboratories.
Flexibility was a central requirement of the project. As an accelerator designed to accommodate multiple occupiers at different stages of growth, the laboratory spaces needed to support reconfiguration without compromising safety or service provision. SB Labs’ heavy-duty mobile workstations enable adaptable layouts within both wet and dry laboratory areas, allowing occupiers to respond to evolving workflows, equipment and team requirements.
Alongside the mobile furniture, we provided and installed our high-specification Exemplaire C-frame system. Finished with Trespa TopLab Plus worktops, over-bench shelving with integrated electrical services, and under-bench mobile cupboards, the system delivers durability and chemical resistance suited to regulated life sciences settings.
Pedestal system benching with epoxy sinks and IPS safety stations with integrated handwash basins form part of the compliant wet-laboratory provision, while tall and wall-mounted cupboards provide essential storage within the laboratory environment.
The completed PHTA laboratories deliver flexible, high-specification Category 2 laboratory environments designed to support evolving research requirements within one of the UK’s leading life sciences innovation campuses.
All photos are courtesy of Bruntwood SciTech.
The SB Labs manufacturing plant, showrooms and offices are always open for viewing and a member of staff would be happy to provide a guided tour at any time.
