AstraZeneca reveals designs for new global R&D center and HQ in Cambridge, UK

Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) on Friday revealed designs for its planned network of glass-walled laboratories as part of its new £330million ($564 million) global headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC), which is due to be occupied by the end of 2016.

The building, inspired by a traditional Cambridge college, has a grassy quad in the centre and is almost entirely made of glass. Its ground floor level will be open to the public. Herzog & de Meuronare the architects selected to design the new site in Cambridge.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive, unveiled the move to Cambridge after he took the helm two years ago, in an effort to tap into the City’s academic talent and expertise in biomedical science. The plans then formed a key plank in fending off the £69 billion unsolicited takeover approach by the USA’s Pfizer earlier this year. Pfizer had committed to keeping 20% of the combined company’s researchers in the UK, and also  continue the headquarters move to Cambridge.