The Francis Crick Institute Operations

Reconfiguring the working environment of the Francis Crick Institute’s 250-strong support team, the project creates a more collaborative environment centred around knowledge-sharing between departments. Founded as a partnership between three universities and three research bodies, the institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research facility, accommodating 1,500 scientific staff in London’s Kings Cross. We sought to understand and integrate the client’s diverse needs within the design by undertaking a rigorous and sophisticated consultation process, which included questionnaires, in-person interviews and behavioural studies. Our data-driven approach revealed surprising insights, such as disparity between perceived (70%) and actual (40%) desk usage. This approach also built trust between the institute, its employees and our design team. Patterns of movement, desired adjacencies and visual interrelationships became inputs for a form-finding AI algorithm developed by our in-house specialists. These tools helped to evolve a variety of configurations, which were refined using physical models for further staff consultation. The resulting interior features a legible layout in which each of the 12 departments has access onto the main circulation route, quieter areas for focused work, and formal and informal meeting spaces, facilitating effective connection and collaboration between the institute’s researchers and support staff. A palette of natural material and colours contrasts with the expressed concrete and steel lab interiors enhancing wellbeing and establishing a sense of identity and place. The Francis Crick Institute was originally designed by HOK and PLP, where Fred Pilbrow was the design partner on the scheme.