Austin was commissioned to undertake two projects for the Health Protection Agency at Porton Down – one for biopharmaceutical products (Media Stores) and the other for cell cultures (Cell Storage Centre).

As a GMP licensed manufacturer of biopharmaceutical products, the first project called for investment in a spacious new pharmaceutical stores facility designed to meet the requirements of the MCA in the UK and the FDA in the USA.

The European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC), a strategic business unit that provides high quality cell cultures and associated services to industry and the academic community, selected Austin for the design and construction of a new state-of-the-art, ultra low temperature storage facility.

The facility includes a 20,000 litre liquid nitrogen dual-reservoir system, automatic fill for 40 storage vessels, the latest telemetry and oxygen monitoring systems.

This facility is the largest of its kind in Europe.