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Sydney's first innovation-enabled commercial precinct. How ION is engineered for science.

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22 August 2025

Sydney's first innovation-enabled commercial precinct. How ION is engineered for science.

In life sciences, infrastructure isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a catalyst. At ION, we’ve reimagined what a science-ready building can be. By embedding lab-enabled design principles from the outset, this development minimises capital expenditure for tenants, accelerates operational readiness, and ensures long-term adaptability for evolving research needs.

 

Drawing on the latest guidance from Construct Science, the building’s core infrastructure has been engineered to support a wide spectrum of scientific work — from PC2 wet labs to cryogenic storage — without the need for costly retrofits or disruptive upgrades.

 

“At ION, we are designing a building that is lab first and commercial second. Having the most flexible and resilient infrastructure is key to the success of the project.’ says Matt Webb, Services Engineer at WSP.

 

“Our goal has been to make sure the base building gives tenants confidence — that their space will support the science they’re doing today, and the science they’ll be doing ten years from now,” adds Matt.

 

When complete in 2028, ION will set a new benchmark: a precinct that is research-ready, future-ready, and built for breakthroughs.

 

 

1. Purpose-Built for Life Sciences

 

ION is being designed as a specialist environment for research and biotech, not a generic building adapted after the fact. That difference matters:

 

  • Single pass air handling units (AHUs) and a centralised PC2 laboratory exhaust system, with additional provisions for tenant dedicated fume cupboard fans and ductwork reticulation.
  • Single-pass AHUs with N+1 redundancy and Aircuity lab zone monitoring for energy-efficient, high-safety air management.
  • Centralised PC2 exhaust system with precise pressure control and additional provisions for tenant-specific exhaust and dedicated fume cupboard risers.
  • Dedicated rooftop plant areas for PC3 labs, ensuring complete separation of utilities and containment.
  • Compressed air plant delivering 10 Bar oil-free dry air to all floors.
  • Basement gas storage and on-floor gas reticulation options for nitrogen, CO₂, and specialty gases.
  • Effluent treatment plant spatial provisions including biokill and neutralisation systems.
  • Rainwater harvesting and 8-hour emergency water storage for operational continuity.
  • Centralised compressed air to all floors and a liquid nitrogen filling station, with provisions for gas stores and additional lab gas lines.

 

 

2. Resilient, Uninterrupted Operations

 

Down time is not an option, ION is being engineered with resilience at its core:

 

  • Triplex HV substation and dual main switchrooms for power reliability.
  • 1,500 kVA base building generator with tenant generator provisions.
  • Triplex HV substation and backup generator plant, with spatial provisions for additional tenant generators — ensuring your containment systems keep running, even during maintenance or failure events.
  • Redundant AHUs and exhaust systems to maintain lab operations during maintenance or failure events.
  • Dynamic air balancing and supply/exhaust control valves integrated with Aircuity for real-time environmental control.
  • 8-hour emergency water storage, keeping labs operational during municipal outages.

 

 

3. Sustainability That Supports Science

 

Sustainability at ION isn’t just about green credentials — it is built into the design to reduce operational costs and support ESG goals:

 

  • Renewable energy through rooftop solar generation and energy not generated on site procured by green power to lower your carbon footprint.
  • Centralised single pass system with Aircuity lab zone air monitoring cuts HVAC energy use by up to 50% without compromising safety.
  • High efficiency façade with passive shading and high-performance glazing to mitigate heat gain from solar exposure and reduce reliance on HVAC systems, lowering opex costs.
  • Hydronic heat reclaim from AHUs and chillers for seasonal efficiency.
  • Energy-efficient lighting, zoned controls, and BMS-integrated submetering for water and energy.

 

 

4. Designed for Flexibility

 

ION is built to adapt to your science:

 

  • Floor-to-floor heights of 4.2m (5.9m for CGMP) and 9.9m column grids for flexible layouts.
  • Structural vibration tolerance (Rf 2.0) suitable for sensitive instrumentation.
  • Wet and dry lab-ready services across all levels, with scalable HVAC, power, and hydraulic infrastructure.
  • Dedicated freight lifts, loading docks, and lab waste drainage systems.

 

 

The Result?

When complete, ION will deliver a research-ready environment designed specifically for life sciences — without the delays, compromises, or costs of adapting a generic commercial space.

 

 

Discover the Detail

 

See the full technical overview of ION’s life sciences infrastructure contact our leasing team to discuss how we can configure a space for your research.