Life sciences buildings and laboratories have historically been viewed as inward-facing, functional spaces and, perhaps unfairly, as secretive and narrowly focused within their work, particularly those operating in industrial R&D.
As research from Laboratory Lifestyles: The Construction of Scientific Fictions observes, layouts of lab facilities have traditionally reinforced this separation between science and society, with social and communal areas taking far less priority in floorplans of the twentieth century and earlier, and public access generally restricted.
However, contemporary life sciences buildings of the past decade have taken a far different approach, placing greater emphasis on interaction and openness among the people working within them and the communities they are a part of. Cafés, informal meeting areas and break-out rooms are designed to encourage chance encounters and spontaneous discussions, supporting collaboration and cross-disciplinary idea sharing alongside formal research.
This shift in design has coincided with a broader change in real estate development strategy. Over the past decade, developers and investors have increasingly complemented traditional science parks and out-of-town campuses with urban life sciences centres, designed to support community wellbeing, stimulate local economies, contribute to urban regeneration and align with long-term sustainability goals.
Looking more closely at these elements, this article considers how life sciences spaces are beginning to shape the communities inside and around them, from placemaking to employment pathways and skills development.
Engaging with Community
MedCity’s Community, Clusters and Dynamics Report emphasises how engaging with the local community plays a crucial role in placemaking. Developers who speak to residents during the planning process tend to deliver projects that are better aligned with their surroundings and more widely used once complete.
Allowing public access is also important, particularly where buildings can support education or social activities. For instance, many life sciences locations open their doors to universities, schools and community groups as a way of engaging with the local community.
As noted in MedCity’s report, there is now also a clearer understanding of the range of environments life sciences organisations themselves require, from early-stage start-ups through to larger, established operations. Looking inside lab spaces, it is clear that flexibility is vital and that scientists value the same everyday amenities as any other workforce. Shared facilities, informal meeting areas and access to cafés and outdoor space all contribute to how buildings are used over time and how meaning is given to the space by those occupying it.
Victoria House: Demonstrating Modern Life Sciences Workspaces
Victoria House offers a model of how life sciences workplaces can be more than just offices and labs, actively supporting community and collaboration. The Grade II listed building in central London’s Bloomsbury Square combines incubator laboratories with serviced office space, enabling organisations to scale gradually without committing to long leases or extensive fit-outs at an early stage. Occupiers share access to meeting rooms, a club lounge, a rooftop terrace and health and wellness facilities, alongside a programme of events that support professional connection and collaboration. With nearby academic and scientific centres, Victoria House connects startups, scale-ups and established teams, offering shared facilities, supportive membership, and access to local expertise and networks, creating opportunities that go beyond traditional workspaces.
Building Sustainable Spaces
Although life sciences buildings require significant energy, they are well-suited to utilising efficient building methods and low-carbon technologies, which provide advantages for occupants and the surrounding community. At Victoria House, this sustainable approach was reflected in construction practices, with more than 95% of waste recycled, 98% diverted from landfill and single-use plastics removed entirely from the build process.
Integrating developments into regeneration areas or city centres can also support social sustainability. Good transport links, along with proximity to affordable housing, schools, hospitals, healthcare, universities and other institutions, make it easier for workers to live well and efficiently.
Considering Employment Pathways
A key way life sciences networks support local communities is by providing opportunities to create meaningful and high-quality jobs at various skill levels in urban areas.
The life sciences sector is, understandably, a highly qualified one, with multiple industries that employ a far higher percentage of people with degree-level qualifications compared to the rest of the UK workforce. According to the government’s Skills England report, in June 2024, the ‘manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products’ industry employed an estimated 69% of people with degree-level qualifications or higher, and the ‘manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations’ industry employed an estimated 67%. This is much higher than the rest of the UK workforce, where the figure stands at approximately 39%.
While this concentration of skills brings obvious strengths and is expected in such a specialist sector, it also raises an important question for communities supporting life sciences communities. If new jobs are created only for those with the highest qualifications, there is a risk that access to space and opportunities could increase. Ensuring that roles exist for people with different skills, experiences and entry points is essential if life sciences developments are to genuinely embed themselves in the places they operate.
Careers in the life sciences sector are not limited to a single path. They span a wide spectrum of roles, from research and manufacturing to medical technologies, commercial functions and the essential support work that keeps organisations running. Alongside traditional academic routes, people can enter through apprenticeships, technical training and on-the-job learning. Careers develop in both global companies and fast-moving start-ups, often within the same local ecosystem.
Job Creation
Beyond the laboratories and offices, life sciences communities create a wider ecosystem of work that reaches into surrounding neighbourhoods. Employment comes not only through direct roles within life science companies, but through the services, suppliers and local businesses that support them. These broader effects are where the sector’s impact on the local community is most visible.
MedCity’s report notes that “for every life science job created, 2.5 additional jobs are formed in the wider economy. This employment multiplier effect is significantly higher than the UK median for industries which falls at 1.66 and can be attributed to the sector’s high productivity profile.” In effect, A growing life sciences sector helps maintain a broader set of careers than might be immediately recognised.
Training and upskilling programmes can also give local residents routes into entry-level roles and apprenticeships, as well as opportunities to progress once they are already in work.
Supporting Schools and Universities
Expanding access to life sciences jobs must begin with education. The Skills England: Sector skills needs assessments report highlights that the sector continues to face persistent skills shortages as it competes for global talent, which makes sustained engagement with schools a practical necessity for the years to come. Many networks already sit alongside schools, colleges and universities, placing them in a strong position to build long-term relationships with local education institutions and support talent development from a young age.
Apprenticeships, mentoring and work placements offer ways for young people to see themselves in an industry that can otherwise feel closed off or intimidating, particularly those in groups with lower representation. When companies support schools with equipment, workshops or show real-world examples of how science is being used, the subject becomes less abstract to students and easier to connect to the world around them. Pioneer Group, for example, opens sites each year to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day, welcoming primary and secondary school pupils to participate in hands-on science activities and meet some of the women in STEM working in research and leadership roles.
Shaping Communities
The future of life sciences development lies in balancing high-tech discoveries with tangible community impact, ensuring that these spaces are inclusive and accessible to the people and places they inhabit.
Pioneer supports a thriving life sciences community across the UK, providing flexible lab and office spaces that empower the people driving real change, while going beyond traditional workspace to encourage collaboration, discovery and connection with the wider community. View available spaces.