Synnovis Hub

The South London Integrated Pathology Services project at Friars Bridge Court has been successfully completed and is now operational as the Synnovis Hub. The scheme delivered an ambitious 11,000 m² retrofit of an existing office building on Blackfriars Road, creating one of the largest purpose-built pathology laboratory facilities in the UK.

Developed for Synnovis, the pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and the NHS, the facility benefits from excellent transport connections and surrounding amenities. The Synnovis Hub now accommodates infection, tissue and blood sciences, alongside specialist services including COVID testing, toxicology and manual immunology, consolidating services within a single, highly efficient location.

FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND STREAMLINED WORKFLOWS

The hub laboratory has established a centralised environment supporting learning and professional development for scientists, NHS clinicians, junior doctors and healthcare professionals across multiple settings.

Advanced digital and IT infrastructure now links the hub with referral laboratories and clinical sites, enabling faster, remote access to testing services and results across both hospitals and community healthcare settings. This connectivity supports quicker diagnosis and treatment decisions, improves patient flow within hospitals, and enables more care to be delivered in community settings, reducing avoidable admissions.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES

The completed facility incorporates a comprehensive suite of specialist spaces, including Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratories, specimen reception and triage areas, science support facilities, reporting and write-up spaces, meeting rooms, staff amenities and reception areas.

The retrofit project also delivered extensive upgrades to the host building’s services, plant and structural systems, ensuring a high-performing, resilient and efficient working environment for laboratory operations.

Digital pathology capabilities across disciplines including histology, microbiology and haematology now enable clinicians to review results remotely. Where on-site attendance is required, dedicated workspace and access to wider building amenities support flexible and collaborative working.

OUR SERVICES

From the earliest stages of the project, Avanti supported SYNLAB in assessing multiple retrofit location options, evaluating their suitability across a range of building types. Following detailed feasibility work, Avanti developed the concept design for the Blackfriars Road site.

Throughout delivery, Avanti continued to act as client advisor, overseeing progress during design and construction, while detailed design and build delivery was undertaken by Mace. The completed Synnovis Hub now stands as a flagship example of large-scale laboratory retrofit and healthcare infrastructure transformation.