{"id":491348,"date":"2026-03-23T19:16:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/491348\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T19:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:16:10","slug":"perkinswill-wins-approval-for-125m-department-store-to-science-hub-retrofit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/491348\/","title":{"rendered":"Perkins&Will wins approval for \u00a3125m department store-to-science hub retrofit"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u00a3125 million project will see the department store in Magdalen Street, which closed in 2021, transformed into a commercial science facility through a partnership between The Crown Estate, science and innovation developer Pioneer Group and venture builder Oxford Science Enterprises.<\/p>\n

The design retains the existing structure of the 19th-century building while transforming the upper floors into a \u2018high-performance incubator and accelerator\u2019 space to support research.<\/p>\n

Perkins&Will estimates that the carbon saved through the re-use of existing material, compared with demolition and new build, amounts to 8,373 one-way flights from London to New York City, or 3,542 average family cars running for one year.<\/p>\n

The Debenhams on the site closed five years ago during the Covid-19 lockdowns and never reopened. The retailer had taken over a building which was built in phases from the late 1800s, initially designed by architect Harry George Walter Drinkwater for retailer Elliston & Cavell.<\/p>\n

Alongside a range of labs, the retrofit will create dedicated conference and events spaces, including a \u2018showcase lab\u2019 for companies to display their work to younger audiences.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Perkins&Will proposals to create a science hub in an existing former Debenhams\u2019 building<\/p>\n

Daniel Parker, science and technology practice leader at Perkins&Will, said: \u2018Through careful refurbishment of the heritage fa\u00e7ades and retention of the existing structure and fabric, we are giving the building a new lease of life and creating a home for pioneering research in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

\u2018By reusing the existing structure rather than replacing it, we are also significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the development and delivering a highly sustainable asset for the future.\u2019<\/p>\n

The practice said that the full envelope and structural fabric of the building will be re-used, including the preservation of the steel frame and composite floor decks.<\/p>\n

The scheme is backed by investment from The Crown Estate as part of its plan to funnel \u00a31.5 billion into the science, innovation, and technology sectors over the next 15 years.<\/p>\n

It will be the first commercial science facility in the heart of historic Oxford, and the UK\u2019s first dedicated hub for human and planetary health research \u2013 a field of study which looks at the relationship between human wellbeing and the health of the natural environment of the planet.<\/p>\n

Work on site is due to start in the first half of 2027, with completion slated for 2029.<\/p>\n

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