Why specialist university facilities are critical to innovation, collaboration and regional growth
Our Senior Project Manager, Nick Preedy, considers why specialist facilities on university campuses have an important role to play in social infrastructure
As we continue to explore the critical role of buildings, spaces and places in social infrastructure (the physical spaces, services and networks that support a community's quality of life), our Senior Project Manager, Nick Preedy, considers why the specialist facilities on university campuses have such an important role to play…
"Universities have long been drivers of knowledge, discovery and innovation. Today, they play a far bigger role in supporting social infrastructure in the UK than ever before. Increasingly, they are catalysts of economic development, public health innovation and regional regeneration. At the centre of this are state-of-the-art environments dedicated to science, technology, manufacturing, research and innovation.
Below we explore some of the ways these specialist facilities support social infrastructure: benefiting students, researchers, industry and wider communities.
Infrastructure that elevates research and teaching
At their core, these buildings, spaces and places enable academic excellence. For researchers and lecturers, these environments support experimentation, creativity and collaboration.
For students, these same spaces transform teaching. With access to cutting-edge labs, emerging technologies and industry-standard technical facilities, students can develop practical skills that align with current needs. When combined with the opportunity to collaborate with industry and be part of real-world scenarios, this provides a significant advantage in helping students to progress in their learning and become job ready.
Collaboration as a catalyst
A significant benefit of these purpose-built facilities is their ability to bring people together - across disciplines, sectors and institutions.
Universities are increasingly forging partnerships with the NHS, local government and industry to co-locate expertise and infrastructure. In life sciences, this collaboration is essential. According to Cancer Research, research clusters that include NHS trusts, universities and biomedical companies are accelerating progress in cancer care.
Likewise, in engineering and manufacturing, shared testbeds and prototyping spaces support collaboration between universities and industry – particularly for SMEs that may lack their own R&D facilities. These partnerships help businesses develop new products, improve processes and bring innovations to market faster.
The proximity offered by shared premises drives collaboration and enables rapid problem-solving. It’s an approach echoed in the UKRI’s (UK Research and Innovation) recent drive to expand regional innovation clusters.
Boosting regional economies
Specialist buildings housed within universities contribute directly to local and national prosperity. They support high-value employment, attract inward investment and create environments where innovation can thrive.
From the emerging Oxford to Cambridge supercluster (linking world-class research in life sciences, AI and clean tech) to Midlands-based manufacturing clusters, these hubs are helping to "level up" regional economies.
In turn, the success of a university’s involvement in forming these clusters will lead to economic benefits. Often universities are one of the largest employers in a local area, which means this also actively supports the local community.
Societal impact and public good
Beyond economic development, state-of-the-art research environments contribute to broader societal goals and social infrastructure.
Joint research centres with the NHS or public sector bodies enable universities to address real-world problems, from tackling health inequalities to improving public services.
This can directly help to shape the wellbeing of communities; better healthcare technology or world-leading research into diseases can deliver tangible improvements to an individual’s daily life.
Strategic value for universities
Alongside the wider social and economic benefits, these facilities also provide significant opportunity for universities themselves.
Specialist buildings can, however, be difficult to get right. They are tailored, often complex environments that must support long-term flexibility, enable secure collaboration, and, despite often being energy-intensive buildings, they must align with wider aspirations to deliver net-zero targets.
When done right, they yield lasting value. They attract world-class researchers, facilitate international partnerships and enhance institutional reputation. They also position universities to respond quickly to national priorities – whether that’s health resilience or digital transformation.
Building the future, together
These university buildings are not just physical assets; they are enablers of transformation. They allow universities to expand their role as hubs of innovation, as partners in regional growth and as anchors of collaborative ecosystems.
They provide researchers, students and industry with the environments where they can explore, test and create. They enable deep collaboration with industry and institutions like the NHS, and they generate economic and social value that goes far beyond the campus gates.
Willmott Dixon are experts in delivering specialist facilities for universities; creating innovative spaces that support the economic and social aspirations of the UK. Find out more about how we can help here."