Sustainable timber engineering: A structural solution for the UK¡¯s life sciences sector
August 27, 2025
Why timber engineering offers a sustainable solution for the life sciences sector, delivering low-carbon, high-performance spaces to a growing industry
The UK government has grand plans for the life sciences sector, and the sustainable construction solutions offered by timber engineering have a key role to play. Growth in the sector has been consistent for the last decade, and this is set to continue, with the government and NHS working towards making the country a ¡®life science superpower¡¯ by 2031.
Life sciences is also one of the government¡¯s eight key sectors in its strategy to drive growth over the next decade. These sectors, which include clean energy and advanced manufacturing, offer the highest growth opportunity for business and the wider economy.
shows steady growth in life sciences in the ten years up to 2021/2022. expects pharmaceuticals to grow by 1.3 percent a year from 2024 to 2026.
This growth will be welcome news for the UK economy, but it also brings challenges to overcome. The country is committed to reaching net zero carbon by 2050, and life sciences¡¯ position at the forefront of improving society¡¯s health means there is an expectation the sector will lead the way when it comes to sustainable practices. So, what can we do to help in this regard?
Nebula at Milton Park in Oxfordshire was completed in early 2025.
Delivering life sciences buildings fit for the future
Demand for suitable life sciences real estate is expected to rise over the coming years as the sector grows. This represents a tremendous opportunity for the industry to lead the way by using sustainable construction to create efficient spaces that not only help to meet net zero targets but also deliver the building performance needed to aid productivity.
Timber engineering is becoming a great alternative to steel in building design. Both glulam, which is glued laminated timber, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) are now practical options for designers. They also offer clear benefits when it comes to sustainability.
The production methods needed to manufacture steel for building frames are very carbon intensive. This means steel-frame buildings have much higher upfront embodied carbon than their timber-framed counterparts. This extends to the whole-life embodied carbon of a building¡ªprovided the timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests and reused rather than destroyed at the end of the building¡¯s lifecycle.
Timber engineering offers more than just lower carbon emissions. Thanks to off-site manufacturing, parts can be made elsewhere with high accuracy. Using Design for Manufacture and Assembly methods speeds up construction, cuts waste and reduces the need for repairs. Timber is also much lighter than steel, which lowers transport and installation costs. Lighter materials mean smaller cranes can be used, reducing disruption on site.
So, let¡¯s dive deeper into what these benefits mean for design and engineering.
The seven properties in the Nebula development use glulam timber structural beams in place of steel.
Long-term timber engineering benefits
A building¡¯s value goes beyond how sustainably it was built. Timber engineering allows for flexible design and supports biophilic design principles. Its warm look helps people feel more connected to nature, unlike the cold feel of exposed steel. This can boost wellbeing, lower stress, and even improve focus¡ª important benefits in life sciences research spaces.
One of our projects, Nebula at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, is one example of utilising timber construction in life sciences buildings. Finished in early 2025, the seven-building site uses glulam beams instead of steel. Covering 80,000 square feet, it aims for a ¡®Excellent¡¯ rating. The switch from steel to timber has led to significant embodied carbon savings.
A building¡¯s value goes beyond how sustainably it was built. Timber engineering allows for flexible design and supports biophilic design principles.
In total, 686.4 tonnes of upfront embodied carbon have been saved by the switch. That¡¯s the equivalent to the average annual carbon footprint of 54 Britons, or 196 economy-class flights from London Heathrow to Hong Kong.
I was pleased to see Philip Campbell, commercial director at ¡¯s operator MEPC, hail Nebula as ¡®a signal to the future of R&D spaces, which are built sustainably to champion innovation and progress.¡¯
Addressing fire safety concerns
Fire safety is always important in building design. While timber is combustible, materials like glulam and CLT behave in a predictable way during a fire. They form a charred layer that acts as insulation, maintaining structural integrity and giving people more time to evacuate safely. With a coordinated fire safety strategy, timber engineering can meet strict safety standards. Timber also often does not need extra fireproofing, which can help reduce costs.
Nebula has been designed to meet the needs of companies in the life sciences sector.
Mitigating the risks
It¡¯s important to recognise that timber engineering comes with some challenges. One key issue is MEP. The complex Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems that manage temperature, humidity, and airborne particulate matter, which are especially important in life sciences. In steel-framed buildings the ducts, pipes and conduits required for these systems can be integrated relatively easily. But timber engineering represents more of a challenge. Cuts and changes to CLT or glulam need to be factored in by the project team at the very beginning of the design phase.
Vibration control is another challenge when using timber engineering. Life sciences labs often have very tight vibration tolerances so sensitive equipment can perform as required. In steel buildings, this is easier to manage. With timber, structural engineers should plan early and may need bespoke floor designs or hybrid concrete integration to deliver the building performance demanded by the sector.
As structural engineers, we know material choices matter when it comes to reaching the UK¡¯s net zero goals. Glulam and CLT are strong, low-carbon options that work well in complex life sciences buildings as an alternative to traditional steel structures. These timber engineering systems are efficient to build with and support healthier indoor spaces thanks to their natural design qualities, promoting wellbeing and productivity. As the life sciences sector grows, using glulam and CLT helps future-proof buildings and shows leadership in using sustainable construction to create high-performing spaces.
