The three-phase programme has transformed two adjoining industrial units into a single, unified facility housing both specialist laboratory environments and collaborative office space across two floors.
When Arctoris acquired the industrial unit adjacent to their existing headquarters, OP worked with the client team from the outset to master plan the combined estate - not just for immediate needs, but with a clear view of future growth. That forward-thinking approach shaped every decision made across all three phases.
Leading office interior design consultancy, OP, has completed the third and final phase of a laboratory and office expansion for Oxfordshire-based biotech company Arctoris, delivering 9,000 sq ft of precision-engineered scientific workspace across two interconnected units.
The project marks the conclusion of a long-term collaboration between OP and Arctoris - a bioscience company that applies advanced laboratory automation and computational science to accelerate drug discovery. As Arctoris's research capabilities have grown, so too has the ambition of the spaces created to support them.
Delivered across three phases, the programme progressed from the installation of a new fire-rated mezzanine floor and ground floor laboratory fit out, through to the completion of the mezzanine level - housing laboratory space on one half and office space on the other. Knock-throughs at both levels connect the two units into a single, cohesive workspace, while a dumbwaiter linking the floors adds a practical touch that reflects the joined-up thinking behind the overall design.
The completed laboratory environments have been designed and fitted out to support Arctoris's highly specialist research requirements, incorporating fume extraction systems, walk-in cold storage, and the technical infrastructure needed to house the unique laboratory machinery central to their automated workflows.
The office space on the mezzanine level sits directly above the laboratory below, creating an efficient, vertically integrated workspace where research and the wider team remain closely connected. Throughout all three phases, finishes, materials, and detailing were carefully matched to Arctoris's existing unit, ensuring the expanded facility reads as one cohesive environment.
Completing this final phase with Arctoris is a proud moment for the team. Laboratory design at this level demands real precision, the environments we create have to meet exacting technical requirements while supporting the pace of a fast-growing research business. Working closely with the Arctoris team across all three phases made that possible, and the result is a facility that does exactly that.
Our partnership with OP has been invaluable as we continue to expand our laboratory capabilities. They understand the precise technical requirements of biotech research environments and have consistently delivered spaces that support our innovative work.