VolkerFitzpatrick has celebrated a major milestone on the Dirac Building at St John's Innovation Park in Cambridge, hosting a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the building's structural frame. The event took place on Wednesday 23rd September and brought together project partners, stakeholders and members of the delivery team to recognise the significant progress made on the landmark development.
Representatives from St John's College, the client behind the development, joined VolkerFitzpatrick and over fifty attendees from across the wider project, including Gardiner & Theobald, Stace, Savills, Ramboll, Sheppard Robson and Hoare Lea, to celebrate the achievement and thank those involved in bringing the project to this stage.
Located at St John's Innovation Park, the Dirac Building will be a high-quality office development designed to support the continued growth of Cambridge's internationally renowned science, technology and research community. The six-storey building will provide flexible, sustainable workspace alongside a transport hub, creating a modern environment for innovative businesses and future occupiers.
The ceremony included a rooftop gathering and wall signing, with guests given the opportunity to view progress from the top of the building. During the event, Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John's College, carried out the traditional topping out task by trowelling the final cement on the roof to mark the completion of the structural frame, before attendees gathered for a marquee reception celebrating the project's progress.
The 85,000 sq ft Dirac Building and associated new transport hub represents the next phase of development at St John's Innovation Park and reflects the College’s forward-looking vision. Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, the development will provide high-quality, future-focused workspace featuring large column-free floorplates, external terraces, a double-height reception and a range of sustainable design features.
As construction progresses, VolkerFitzpatrick will continue working closely with St John's College and the wider project team to deliver a development that will help strengthen Cambridge's position as a leading centre for research, innovation and technology.
"Reaching the topping out stage is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work, commitment and collaboration of everyone involved in the project. We are proud to be working alongside St John's College and our project partners to deliver a high-quality, sustainable building that will support the future growth of innovation and research in Cambridge. We look forward to completing the next stages of the development and bringing this exciting project to life."
Ben Walker Project Manager, Building Division at VolkerFitzpatrick
Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John's College, said:
"The topping out ceremony marks an important milestone for the Dirac Building and St John's Innovation Park. It is fantastic to see the progress made to date and to celebrate alongside the teams who have worked so hard to deliver this stage of the project. The development will provide much-needed, high-quality workspace for the Cambridge innovation community and forms an important part of our long-term vision for the Park."
