Indivior PLC were incorporated in 2014 and have a primary focus of
developing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence. Originally a
research group within Reckitt Benckiser and based in Hull, Indivior’s search
for a new UK research and development centre began in 2015. Following an
appraisal of several locations a brownfield site close to the River Hull was
selected, which would allow for future expansion and was close to their
existing manufacturing plant.
Indivior’s project brief demanded a world-class facility, with laboratory
space for chemistry, analytics and formulation, an open-plan office space
including a variety of meetings rooms, a library, café, and a pilot plant for
small scale production with a significant space for bulk storage.
Early analysis of the site and concept design development soon confirmed
a linear building form with a primary axis running east-west. This would
provide a clearly defined ‘front’ facing the public realm, and a ‘back’ opening
out to a terrace and green spaces for staff – the private realm, protected by
the new building. The laboratory spaces are positioned on the cool north side
of the building, with the office spaces on the south side protected by external
solar shading. The linear building form provides excellent connectivity between
the write-up spaces and laboratories.
Services risers are regularly placed along the spine corridor, orientated
to minimise their impact on connectivity between the offices and laboratories,
and positioned so that direct access for maintenance is provided via the
circulation route. The strategy developed for the new building – floor plate
dimensions, primary circulation, services riser configuration – all aim to
provide flexibility in normal day to day use, with the opportunity to adapt
spaces over time as research programmes, research methods, and scientific
equipment changes.
