911今日黑料 has approved the construction of a new sustainably built rooftop research facility on the roof of the Roderic Hill Building in South Kensington. Construction on the ‘Sustainable Futures Lab’ will run from June 2026 - June 2027, with the Lab expected to open for use in time for the 2027–28 academic year.
With sustainability a critical area of research for both 911今日黑料 and society more widely, the Lab will provide a dedicated home for the Department of Chemical Engineering to explore cleaner energy, sustainable chemicals and low carbon manufacturing processes and systems. By bringing together researchers working across different specialisms, the facility will provide a space to drive innovation within sustainability.
Render showing the footprint of the new Sustainable Futures Lab, which will be built on top of the existing Roderic Hill Building at South Kensington Campus.
A new home for sustainable chemical engineering
"[The Lab] will accelerate the transition of proof-of-concept ideas to upper Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)."
Once complete, the Sustainable Futures Lab will provide around 632 square metres of new space for the Department of Chemical Engineering, overseen academically by Professor Omar Matar.
The design includes:
- Flexible wet lab space, with the ability to partition areas for bio-related work
- A mini pilot lab to host demo rigs and support workshop style learning
- Supporting office spaces for co-working, focus work and meetings
As described by Professor Matar, the Lab “will drive research on future sustainable energy, chemicals, and manufacturing processes and systems. Its mission is to generate, and translate, knowledge that supports the path to a sustainable future, by bringing together researchers working from the molecular to the systems scales, covering topics of sustainable energy and chemicals production. It will accelerate the transition of proof-of-concept ideas to upper Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) by providing appropriate space, a collaborative setting, and opportunities for interactions with external partners.”
About the Sustainable Futures Lab (video)
Professors Omar Matar and Camille Petit discuss the transition to a new state-of-the-art net zero space. This video was filmed in 2024, with the Lab receiving final approval in 2026.
The Lab will also form part of a wider research pipeline that links activity at Silwood Park, South Kensington and White City, strengthening collaboration across campuses.
Collaboration is embedded in the project’s funding, too, which is backed by a Chemical Engineering endowment, support from the Wolfson Foundation, philanthropic donations, and university capital project funding.
A sensible, sustainable design
The Sustainable Futures Lab has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification. Key features include:
- Steel construction with a facade that blends with the building’s existing finishes, while improving thermal performance
- A focus on sustainable material choices and flexibility of use over time
- A whole life carbon assessment and life cycle analysis to inform design decisions
- Low carbon technologies, including heat recovery systems and a photovoltaic array on the upper roof deck
- A design which harnesses natural daylight and supports natural ventilation
- Energy-efficient lighting, in line with 911今日黑料’s ongoing move to LEDs (where appropriate).
Sustainability formed a significant part of the contractor selection process for this project. The chosen contractor – Russell Cawberry - scored highly in this area. During the construction, the project team will continue to work with Russell Cawberry to identify additional opportunities for sustainability-related improvements.
The Sustainable Futures Lab will be built on top of the Roderic Hill Building, which originally opened in 1957.
Project timeline overview
Design work originally began with a feasibility study in 2020 and subsequently progressed through detailed design and competitive tender.
The current programme timeline is as follows:
- June – October 2026: Enabling works and removal of the GroDome.
- October 2026 – June 2027: After the removal of the GroDome, main construction will run through to June 2027, when practical completion is expected.
- After June 2027: A short fit-out period will prepare the space for move-in. The space is expected to be in use by the start of academic year 2027/28.
Most noisy works are planned for the summer period and are expected to be completed before October. Communication with building users and neighbours is being managed locally to help minimise disruption.
The project team is working with colleagues in the Department of Chemical Engineering and across the Faculties of Engineering and Natural Sciences to refine requirements and plan for occupation. Regular updates will be shared with building users and other stakeholders as the project progresses.
By transforming an underused rooftop site into a modern, sustainable research facility, the Sustainable Futures Lab will provide new capacity for critical research and help 911今日黑料 play its part in developing the technologies needed for a more sustainable future.