Mixed-use developer Socius has appointed Katrina Lamberton as senior project manager, joining the team responsible for delivering the £500 million Botanic Place scheme in Cambridge.
Lamberton, who has more than 20 years’ experience in construction and development, joins from multinational integrated real estate group, Lendlease, where she was development project manager. Before that she was employed at freight transport operator Powerhouse Forwarding.
During her time at Lendlease, Lambeton worked on projects including the 60-acre transport hub at Euston and a 5 million-square-foot office development at the International Quarter East London for the Financial Conduct Authority's new head office.
More recently, she worked on the 50-acre mixed-use development scheme at Silvertown Quays, which comprises office space, apartments, leisure and community space and retail.
Botanic Place, labelled the "most sustainable and intelligent workspace in the UK outside of London", will use 70% less energy than a typical office building and will be powered using renewable energy sources. It is being delivered on behalf of Railpen, the asset manager for the £35 billion railways pension fund.
The project team will also work to preserve the historic public house, The Flying Pig, and create 15,000 square feet of internal amenities, events, and food and beverage space, alongside 40,000 square feet of terraces on multiple levels, for private and communal uses.
Speaking to CoStar News, Lamberton said Cambridge was familiar ground, as she worked on Grand Arcade shopping centre. "It’s wonderful to be back to add another set of beautiful and useful landmark buildings to this vibrant city, " Lamberton said.
"The development is designed to enhance the surrounding area and as it is adjacent to the Botanical Gardens it will be exciting to see how the new environment flows together."
The new Socius recruit added that she would be focusing on the social value aims of the project; something which she said was personally important.
"I want people to be excited and keen to come into the office again and I believe we all need face-to-face interactions to be happy and productive. Every decision we are making as a project team, from procurement, through to the materials we use and re-use, is underpinned by our aim to deliver best-in-class workspace that allows for future flexibility."
Barry Jessup, managing director at Socius, added: "Katrina’s expertise in planning and delivering large complex schemes will be hugely valuable as we bring forward the plans for Botanic Place, which will set a new benchmark for sustainable workspace in Cambridge."
At the beginning of the year, Socius was picked by Sutton Council along with insurance giant Aviva as a partner to deliver the "world's leading district for cancer research and treatment" at the London Cancer Hub in south London, a health-led regeneration project, on behalf of Railpen.