A new timber-structured building at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton is redefining what a high-performance research space can look and feel like. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the Thornton Building is the latest addition to the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and has been developed with an ambitious low-carbon and wellbeing-first agenda.
A timber-led approach to sustainable design
A CLT and glulam timber structure is at the heart of the design, chosen for its low embodied carbon and biophilic benefits. The building is named after Dame Janet Thornton and represents the first phase of EMBL-EBI’s wider campus expansion.
Using the practice’s in-house carbon review tool, FCBS Carbon, the project team carefully optimised the structure, façade and layout to minimise carbon emissions over the building’s full life cycle. The result is a research hub that champions material efficiency without compromising on comfort or functionality.
Designed for people—and for nature
Home to around 200 researchers working on global challenges such as health, food security and biodiversity, the building has been consciously shaped to support both productivity and wellbeing. Generous glazing allows daylight to flood internal spaces, while views across the landscape and timber-lined interiors create a warm, calming atmosphere.
“We care about how people feel in and around the spaces we create,” said Kossy Nnachetta, partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. “ The Thornton Building, centred around biophilic design, is about more than having plants in the space; it’s about the physical and visual relationship between humans and nature.”
Features such as a central atrium with a timber diagrid rooflight, cork flooring, planted breakout areas and a mix of formal and informal working zones all contribute to the building’s biophilic design ethos.
Energy-efficient, flexible and future-ready
Sustainability runs throughout the project. The building is powered by air-source heat pumps and rooftop solar panels, with facilities including cycle storage, showers, and wellness spaces supporting sustainable commuting and inclusive working.
The Thornton Building has been designed to be adaptable to the evolving needs of scientific research. EMBL-EBI expects it to play a key role in supporting collaboration with academic and industrial partners as it continues to expand the scale and impact of its work in bioinformatics.
With its timber-first construction and focus on occupant health, the Thornton Building offers a model for low-carbon, high-comfort research environments of the future.
Information and photos regarding this project were sourced from the Architects’ Journal.
Content Team
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