The ARC Building is a major research facility delivered as part of the University of Glasgow’s £1bn Campus Development Programme. The 16,000m² centre brings together world-leading researchers to explore major global challenges ranging from energy demand to waste management. The building has been intentionally designed to enable deep collaboration between disciplines, encouraging new thinking, shared research practice and meaningful industry and public engagement.

FES delivered the full mechanical, electrical, digital engineering and specialist laboratory services for the ARC. Work included site-wide utilities, district heating, specialist ventilation, laboratory gases, security systems, AV systems and advanced power distribution. Through early design involvement, BIM model control and extensive off-site prefabrication, FES developed streamlined and value-driven delivery strategies, manufacturing bespoke modules and plantrooms offsite to improve coordination and programme certainty.

The building includes a wide range of specialist environments, from temperature-controlled rooms and cleanrooms, to advanced research laboratories and specialist fume extraction systems. The Ground Floor is open to staff, students and the public, providing flexible spaces for events, conferences, networking and public engagement. Dedicated maker spaces, enterprise areas and post-graduate researcher zones further support innovation, skills development and new venture creation.

ARC also hosts one of the UK’s largest VR/AR labs and a significant number of bookable seminar and collaboration rooms, including flexible large-scale spaces for international speakers, conferences and academic partnership activity. This blend of high-spec labs, digital capability, immersive research environments and public-facing spaces positions the ARC as a central hub for future-focused research.