The new Institute for Regeneration and Repair South (IRR South) marks the next phase of world-leading research facilities on the Edinburgh BioQuarter, providing the University of Edinburgh with adaptable and highly collaborative space for over 500 scientists.

Capitalising on the synergies between clinicians, patients, scientists, and industry partners, the IRR South will epitomise translational research and medicine. A key design driver? Removing the traditional gaps of communication and barriers between scientists and clinicians enhancing the ‘bench to bedside enterprise’. The building is home to flagship centres carrying out inflammation, reproductive health, and regenerative medicine research and also features a dedicated pandemic science hub.

Our IRR South design features agile themes-based discovery environments that integrate open labs, support labs, offices, and write-up space to provide a sense of community. Scientists are visually-connected—horizontally and vertically—through a ‘discovery forum’. The two-storey spaces promote collaboration by directly connecting floors within the laboratory environment. Seminar areas, offices, and the popular Niche Café and exhibition area open to the wider campus also foster collaboration.

The IRR South creates a sense of place that will retain, attract, and inspire the world’s best scientists and students to collaborate, innovate, and drive discovery in a flexible state-of-the-art research environment—effectively-promoting scientific cohesion as future developments enrich the BioQuarter campus.