Indivior UK Research Hub

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.