The firm has signed off a preconstruction services agreement to build the proposed new 300,000 sq ft Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine research campus.

The institute is backed by the world’s seventh richest man Lawrence Joseph Ellison who founded the Oracle Corporation.

The Los Angeles-based cancer research institute plans to establish a UK base and has submitted plans to build a big campus at the established Oxford Science Park to the south east of city.

Planned buildings at the Littlemore House site

When completed in around three years time, the campus will bring together disciplines such as physics, biology, maths and engineering to study cancer, enhancing cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Architect Foster + Partners has drawn up the design, which because of space limitations, will be constructed on two sites, joined by a winding, elevated timber walkway through the trees.

Walkway canopy will be fitted with solar panels

According to documents submitted to the city council planning authority, the project will be constructed under two separate contracts, Laing O’Rourke set to be the principal contractor for both.

Under the present project timetable, subject to planning, contracts will be signed off in the summer to allow works to start on site in August 2023.

Walkway connecting campus locations

The campus has been designed to be sustainable using low embodied carbon materials, solar panels and ground source heat pumps.

Proposed development of the existing Littlemore House site and Plot 18 site with its geodesic dome building at the Oxford Science Park