Science and Technology

We have a proven track record in the science and research sector, delivering pioneering, award-winning facilities for globally renowned institutions. Enabled by our offsite manufacturing capabilities and ongoing research and development – and delivered through our integrated delivery model – we realise world-class, highly complex science and research facilities, such as the Francis Crick Institute.

Science and Technology is a priority sector for the UK government, with a focus on constructing high quality facilities that enable scientists to conduct world class research. Our teams have the expertise in delivering to the precise tolerances required by the sector, along with design and engineering solutions that provide creative spaces and workplaces for some of the greatest minds to solve today's challenges. We are proud to be deploying that expertise as part of the team delivering the £920m National Biosecurity Centre in Weybridge for UK DEFRA. One of just 30 specialist facilities globally, the National Biosecurity Centre is a critical piece of the UK’s scientific infrastructure, housing cutting-edge labs and medical expertise to protect people and animals from disease outbreaks.

2024 marked 25 years of Laing O'Rourke building in Oxford and with a rich heritage of working for the University of Oxford to deliver teaching, science and research facilities. Projects delivered for the University of Oxford including the Oxford Biochemistry Building, The Blavatnik School of Government and most recently the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. Our 14thproject for the university is currently underway. For more information on our journey with Oxford please take a look at this articles - A loyal friend is of value beyond measure – Laing O’Rourke and The University of Oxford - and watch this video.

In addition, we are moving at pace through the construction of the Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford – using Modern Methods of Construction and Digital Engineering to create a new paradigm for quality in the sector. More information on this prestigious, visionary project can be found here.

In Australia, Laing O'Rourke is a trusted partner to leading academic institutions, most recently delivering the Susan Wakil Health Building for the University of Sydney – a world‑class, purpose‑built facility training Australia’s future health workforce.

James is our Science & Technology sector lead for the Europe Hub. It’s a sector that requires early engagement and collaboration from the outset, skills that James has honed throughout his 20-year career with Laing O’Rourke. He has worked inside and outside of traditional management structures and this experience makes him particularly suited to early engagement on schemes where the brief and route to delivery are fluid. He has supported clients in this space both in short term scheme appraisals, and longer-term pre-construction support. His clients value the attention to detail, innovative thinking and clarity of presentation that he demands of himself and encourages from his teams. James is a firm believer that that good stakeholder relationships are essential to the success of any project, and that clear, unambiguous communication is the key to making these relationships work.

Photograph: The Francis Crick Institute copyright Nick Guttridge.