This project marks another successful collaboration for Kane with Breakthrough Properties and McLaughlin & Harvey within the rapidly expanding life sciences sector, further strengthening established relationships and reinforcing Kane’s reputation as a trusted delivery partner for large-scale, technically challenging developments across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Spanning 166,000 sq ft across five storeys, Vitrum has been designed to provide world-class laboratory and office accommodation for pioneering life sciences organisations. The development features a mix of high-specification laboratory and write-up spaces, complemented by a range of on-site amenities including a café, lounge and gymnasium. The building also incorporates StudioLabs by Breakthrough, providing flexible, turnkey laboratory and office environments tailored to the evolving needs of occupiers.
Kane’s scope encompassed the delivery of complex mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) systems, supporting the highly serviced and technically demanding nature of the facility. Drawing on our end-to-end delivery model, we provided expertise from engineering and design coordination through to offsite manufacture, installation and commissioning.
Utilising our industry-leading offsite manufacturing capabilities, Kane incorporated extensive prefabricated solutions to enhance programme certainty, improve quality, reduce waste and accelerate construction activities on site.
Optimised designs for offsite
A key element of the project’s success was the early adoption of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles. Working collaboratively with the project team from the outset, Kane optimised designs for offsite manufacture and efficient onsite installation, improving coordination across disciplines while reducing site labour requirements, programme risk and installation durations.
This proactive approach provided greater certainty around delivery while supporting the stringent compliance, performance and traceability requirements associated with a modern life sciences facility.
Advanced digital engineering and 4D planning
The project also benefited from Kane’s advanced digital engineering expertise, incorporating Building Information Modelling (BIM), virtual design and construction methodologies, digital coordination tools and 4D planning throughout the design and construction process.
These technologies enabled the team to accurately model, coordinate and validate complex building services systems before installation commenced, reducing clashes and improving efficiency across disciplines.
By integrating the construction programme with the digital model, Kane used 4D visual construction modelling to simulate the planned sequence of works before activities took place on site. This allowed the project team to visualise installation activities over time, identify potential constraints, optimise work sequences and make informed decisions around the delivery programme.
The 4D approach also provided a valuable communication and planning tool, giving project stakeholders greater visibility of how complex MEP installations would progress and interact with other construction activities. By identifying sequencing challenges digitally before they affected site operations, the team could proactively mitigate programme risks, improve coordination and support critical project milestones.
The integration of BIM, 4D planning and digital coordination with Kane’s DfMA and offsite manufacturing capabilities created a more connected approach to project delivery, linking design, manufacture, programme sequencing and onsite installation within the wider construction strategy.
Supporting these digital processes were robust quality assurance and commissioning procedures, ensuring the high standards expected within a specialist laboratory environment were achieved at every stage of delivery. From design coordination and offsite manufacture through to installation, testing and handover, Kane maintained comprehensive quality control measures and traceable project documentation, providing assurance for both client and end-user.
The completion of Vitrum represents another significant milestone in Kane’s expanding life sciences portfolio and further demonstrates the company’s proven track record in delivering critical infrastructure and specialist MEP solutions on some of the UK’s most complex and technically demanding developments.
The project highlights Kane’s ability to combine engineering excellence, digital innovation, 4D planning, DfMA principles and modern methods of construction to deliver enhanced programme certainty, quality assurance and operational performance.
