The MDR group was relocated from the Sir Alexander Fleming (SAF) building to a new, purpose-designed facility on Level 3 of the Burlington Danes Building at Imperial’s Hammersmith Campus. The new space accommodates the division’s full range of laboratory functions, including facilities for both staff and students, and supports the group’s mass spectrometry-based analytical systems.

The aim was to consolidate activities previously spread across the third and sixth floors of the SAF building, providing a centralised, modern environment aligned with the research and operational needs of the department.

Structural investigations during design development informed the location strategy for key pieces of equipment. Six nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers were positioned to the north of the floorplate, with the heavily serviced mass spectrometry systems placed on the south side, adjacent to vertical service risers.

Due to the strong magnetic fields generated by the NMR systems, careful planning and adjustments were required to ensure safety and spatial compatibility, including modifications to the ceiling and floor below. Freezer storage areas were positioned to benefit from natural fresh air intake, reducing the cooling demand and improving operational energy efficiency.