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1 PORTAL WAY - FAQs
Part of the Sciopolis network, this purpose‑built innovation hub in North Acton, West London, is created for scientists, engineers and founders who need space that works from day one.
It offers some of the most cost‑effective, fully fitted labs and offices in London, combining practical design, flexible leasing and the backing of Imperial’s innovation ecosystem. Located within one of London’s best-connected hubs, and supported by Imperial Incubator - it delivers affordability, connectivity and community in a single address.
Frequently asked questions
24 ready-to-move-in labs and 29 modern offices plus meeting rooms, coworking areas, event spaces, Café, front terrace and rear private garden.
Designed for a broad spectrum of science and technology innovation companies including life sciences, health innovation, clean-tech, chemistry, deep-tech, AI, etc. From start-up to scale-up.
All labs are developed as Containment Level 2 (CL 2) labs suited to most benchtop science.
This includes:
o Six air changes per hour
o Dedicated three‑phase electrical supply with switchboard
o High and low‑level dado rails with power sockets every metre and several data sockets
o Ceiling‑mounted 32 amp outlets for island benches or central equipment
o One dedicated gas line connected to external manifolds
o Compressed air line
o One vented extract duct per lab which is sized to support one 1,500 mm fume cupboard in every lab (with capacity for additional units by arrangement)
o Hand basin with Hot and Cold potable water
o Lab sink with cold lab water
o Vinyl flooring with coved edges to contain spillages
o Ground‑floor labs and some first-floor labs have concrete floors which will provide better vibration performance
o All first‑floor labs are fitted with leak‑detection systems to minimise any damage to ground floor labs in case of a leak.
Fixed benching around sinks and a series of mobile benches are provided as standard allowing tenants to develop their own layouts.
Additional furnishing can be added by tenants, as required.
Tenants are generally responsible to provide their own science equipment, however some shared equipment is provided in Common Equipment rooms (ref below).
Yes, we have 29 offices of various sizes from 17-85m2.
Private and open-plan offices with high-speed connectivity and meeting-room access are ready for immediate move-in.
Hot-desking and coworking options available.
Yes, subject to compliance.
Early engagement is key and space can still be adapted during construction for maximum flexibility.
Rates are among the most competitive for ready-to-occupy labs in London.
We offer short- and long-term leases.
Contact our team for a tailored quote. (https://www.sciopolis.co.uk/oneportalway-contact)
Yes.
A lab manager from Imperial Incubator is based onsite to provide technical expertise, operational support and direct links to Imperial’s network.
Since 2006, Imperial Incubator has supported science‑driven startups with the space, tools and know‑how to progress breakthrough ideas. Its companies have raised over £622 million, created more than 600 jobs and achieved significant industry recognition.
This impact is rooted in its ability to unlock Imperial’s world‑class research environment- from specialist facilities and academic collaborations to graduate talent and industry partnerships.
Founders based at 1 Portal Way benefit from:
• Streamlined onboarding and equipment access
• A connected startup community across West London
• Skills‑focused workshops, mentoring and expert guidance
• Investor introductions, accelerator pathways and grant support
• Advanced scientific capabilities and access to Imperial’s academic network
There’s a Shared Equipment room on each floor.
Each include autoclaves, glass washers, flake-ice machines and demineralised water systems (Type 1 and 2).
Bookable through the Sciopolis app.
One Portal Way is designed to foster community and productivity.
Tenants can access:
o Meeting rooms for team and client sessions (3–12 people, all Teams‑enabled), quiet rooms and phone booths, plus a Training Room for about 30 people with live streaming capability.
o Café and social areas for informal interactions
o Event spaces to host launches, demos and networking. Our ground‑floor event suite seats 70–80 people and includes full AV for presentations and launches
o Private garden at the rear of the site is suitable for relaxation and large events
o Regular programming to support collaboration and culture
Yes. A public café serves rotating menus of hot food (vegan included) and barista coffee.
Each floor has tenant-only tea points with free coffee and tea, fridges and microwaves.
Sciopolis staff clean offices, lab floors and shared areas regularly.
Tenants clean their own benches and equipment.
General waste is handled centrally by the cleaning team; specialist waste is handled by tenants through approved providers.
External stores accommodate non-hazardous waste, chemical materials and LN₂ facilities. Contracts are coordinated by the lab manager.
Yes. Water, heating and electricity are included within the service charge.
Our sites all have main and back-up high bandwidth internet provision, each offering very high reliability. All sites use Cat 6A cabling with wide Wi-Fi coverage and secure network options.
Access control and room bookings are managed through the Sciopolis app.
Secure rack space is available for tenant rental in the comms room.
Yes.
Tenants have round-the-clock access with onsite security.
Lone-working policies apply for labs outside normal hours.
One Portal Way is exceptionally well connected.
· North Acton station (Central Line) is a two-minute walk. Acton Main Line (Elizabeth Line) around 10 minutes away, providing fast links to central London, Heathrow and the South East.
· The site sits two stops from White City (Central Line) and one stop to Hammersmith Hospital.
· When HS2 opens, the Old Oak Common superhub will be the only place in London where the Elizabeth Line, and HS2 intersect, cutting journey times to Bond Street (9 min), Tottenham Court Road (10 min), Canary Wharf (23 min), Heathrow (18 min) and Birmingham (31 min).
Yes.
Secure covered racks are available for 60 bikes, 3 showers for cyclists, plus limited bookable car spaces for visitors within a gated car park.
Smaller parcels will be received at reception and placed in secure tenant post lockers;
larger deliveries use the rear logistics bay and goods lift with short-term holding space in the logistics store.
Flexible ‘all-in’ serviced leases include utilities, cleaning and shared facility management.
One transparent payment covers rental of space, rates, meeting room access, utilities, operations, cleaning, community activities, etc. Meeting-room and printing allowances are built in.
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Support starts well before move-in.
Through our partnership with Imperial College London and a network of trusted collaborators, we offer far more than space.
Members can access:
o Peer-to-peer collaboration – we connect tenants who can help each other overcome challenges.
o Community and learning – events, workshops and socials blend knowledge-sharing and fun
o Talent attraction – curated introductions to recruiters and investors to grow teams quickly.
o Practical business support – help finding suppliers, mentors and vetted service providers.
o Direct links to Imperial – connections into research partners, recruitment pipelines and collaborative projects.
o Lab and technical support – onsite expertise and facilities from the Imperial Incubator to aid scaling.
o Visibility and brand building – promotion through events and media within the Sciopolis network.
No.
We welcome tenants across all science innovation, including; life science, biotech, med-tech, chemistry, quantum technology, cleantech, advanced materials, robotics, AI and more.
Spin-outs from any university in the UK and beyond are encouraged.
Yes.
Labs can accommodate light engineering, fabrication and sensor development.
Proximity to Imperial Victoria Industrial Estate provides easy access to ‘heavier duty’ facilities.
Yes. Flexible space and short- to long-term lease options enable growth from early R&D through production.
Absolutely.
We embrace cross-disciplinary innovation and collaboration with the nearby Park Royal Design District to bring art, design and manufacturing talent into the community.
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