Dirac Building tops out as St John’s Innovation Park enters next phase
Wed, Sep 30, 2026
Cambridge: Wednesday 30th September: St John’s College has marked a major milestone in the development of its new Dirac Building at St John’s Innovation Park, with a topping out ceremony celebrating completion of the building’s structural frame.
More than 50 guests gathered on Wednesday 23 September, bringing together representatives from the College, main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick and the wider project team, including Gardiner & Theobald, Stace, Savills, Ramboll, Sheppard Robson and Hoare Lea.
Hosted by VolkerFitzpatrick, the ceremony took place on the roof of the new building, where Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John’s College, performed the traditional topping out task by trowelling the final cement. Guests also took part in a wall signing before enjoying a marquee reception to recognise the progress made since construction began.
The 85,000 sq ft Dirac Building represents the next phase in St John’s College’s long-term investment in the Innovation Park and is scheduled to be available for occupation from Q2 2027.
Its delivery will add significant new Grade A capacity at the heart of the North Cambridge Research & Development Cluster, an established concentration of technology, R&D and knowledge-intensive businesses to the north of the city centre. St John’s Innovation Park is already home to a diverse community of innovative businesses, while its proximity to Cambridge North station, the guided busway and key road networks provides connectivity to the city and wider region.
Designed for Cambridge’s technology, R&D and knowledge-intensive businesses, Dirac will provide highly flexible Grade A workspace, with large column-free floorplates allowing occupiers considerable freedom in configuring and branding their space. External terraces, including a roof terrace, and an impressive double-height reception are also integral to the design.
Sustainability and employee wellbeing have been central to the specification. The development is targeting BREEAM Excellent and has already secured a WiredScore Platinum certification, while ventilation standards will exceed BCO guidelines by more than 30 per cent.
A new Transport Hub forms part of the development and will provide a gym, showers and changing rooms, lockers, extensive covered cycle parking, cycle maintenance facilities and EV charging. This sustainable transport infrastructure is complemented by the Park’s extensive on-site car parking provision - an increasingly valuable practical advantage for businesses in a Cambridge market where parking is at a premium. Together with its proximity to Cambridge North station, the guided busway and key road connections, this gives occupiers and their employees a broad choice of ways to reach the Park. Landscaped outdoor areas provide further space for employees to meet, relax and interact.
For prospective occupiers, Dirac combines new-build specification with the advantages of joining an established innovation community. The wider Park provides conference and meeting facilities, a café / restaurant and landscaped spaces, alongside a programme of networking, sporting, social and wellbeing activities, all of which create opportunities for businesses and their employees to connect beyond their own workspace.
Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John's College, said: "The topping out ceremony marks an important milestone for the Dirac Building and St John's Innovation Park. It is fantastic to see the progress made to date and to celebrate alongside the teams who have worked so hard to deliver this stage of the project. The development will provide much-needed, high-quality workspace for the Cambridge innovation community and forms an important part of our long-term vision for the Park."
Ben Walker, Project Manager, Building Division at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: "Reaching the topping out stage is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work, commitment and collaboration of everyone involved in the project. We are proud to be working alongside St John's College and our project partners to deliver a high-quality, sustainable building that will support the future growth of innovation and research in Cambridge. We look forward to completing the next stages of the development and bringing this exciting project to life."
Explore the Dirac Building and wider Park offering here.
