Thornton Building, Wellcome Trust

The Thornton Building at the Wellcome Genome Campus features a bespoke façade from Proteus combining SR and perforated SC panels to express the facility’s genomic research focus through architectural detail, delivering a technically complex and visually compelling rainscreen solution.

The Thornton Building at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton is a flexible, collaborative workspace designed to accommodate 250 people, complete with conference facilities and a café. Part of a wider campus masterplan, it emphasises sustainability, wellbeing and the integration of nature through biophilic design. Outdoor working areas and a focus on daylight and views help reinforce a sense of connection to the landscape. A key feature of the building is its bespoke façade, designed in close collaboration between Proteus and architects Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios.

The concept called for a sinusoidal profile with a custom perforation pattern that varies across the surface. To achieve this, Proteus developed a tailored solution combining solid Proteus SR panels with an overlaid perforated sinusoidal skin, riveted to the base panel. This method retained CWCT compliance and fire performance, while allowing for a visually striking and technically demanding finish.