The verdict in three sentences
In Cambridge, a practice designing laboratories, workplaces and science park buildings is checked by developers and occupiers before every shortlist, so its website is a permanent bid document. A local agency makes sense if you are rebuilding your brand identity or want a partner on hand for every site shoot. If the identity exists and the job is a fast, filterable portfolio that is easy to update, a remote studio at a fixed price does the work for a fraction of the cost.
What should a lab and workplace practice website show?
Your audience is developers' project directors, estates leads at biotech companies and college estates teams. They look for technical evidence more than mood.
- Filterable portfolio by type (laboratory, workplace, education, refurbishment), stage and floor area.
- Technical project pages: floor area in m², BREEAM rating targeted or achieved, containment or vibration constraints, phasing in occupied buildings.
- Awards and competitions with dates and juries, plus a press page.
- Qualification form: project type, floor area, site, timeline, budget envelope.
- Heavy images, optimised: AVIF or WebP, lazy loading and responsive sizes to keep LCP under 2.5 seconds on mobile.
A regulatory point that is often missed: in the UK, the title architect is protected by the Architects Act 1997 and reserved for people on the ARB register. On the team page, an unregistered colleague should be described as an architectural assistant or designer, not as an architect.
How do a local agency and a remote studio score?
Scores out of 5 for a 10 to 20 person practice whose visual identity already exists.
| Criterion | Cambridge agency | Remote studio (e.g. Kolonell) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presence at site shoots | 5 | 2 | The studio briefs your photographer but is not on site |
| Time zone and responsiveness | 5 | 4 | Project manager reachable on UK hours |
| Native copy for project pages | 4 | 4 | Native English or French copywriting included at Kolonell |
| Price of a portfolio site | 2 | 5 | £15,000 to £40,000 versus £3,900 to £6,900 |
| Time to launch | 2 | 5 | 12 to 20 weeks versus 3 to 4 weeks |
| Code and domain ownership | 3 | 3 | Depends on the contract in both cases |
| Brand refresh workshop | 5 | 3 | Clear advantage to being in the room |
The local ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical quotes and published rates from agencies in the region, not a survey. The Kolonell grid is public on the international offer page: Starter £2,300, Growth £3,900, Premium £6,900, with 3 months of support included.
When is the local agency the better choice?
There are three situations where a Cambridge agency clearly wins. First, a full identity refresh, with logotype, typefaces and a layout system for competition boards. Second, a practice that wants one partner for the website, bid brochures and exhibition panels. Third, a portfolio that needs frequent shoots by drone and indoors, coordinated site by site.
In other cases most of the work is done remotely: sitemap, project page templates, a CMS that lets you add a project in 15 minutes, image optimisation. Photos are still produced by local photographers you commission.
What does each option cost over three years, and what should you lock down?
| Cost line | Cambridge agency | Freelancer | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and filterable portfolio | £15,000 to £40,000 | £3,500 to £9,000 | £6,900 |
| Architectural photography (3 days) | £2,700 to £6,000 | £2,700 to £6,000 | £2,700 to £6,000 |
| Drone footage (1 day) | £800 to £1,800 | £800 to £1,800 | £800 to £1,800 |
| Maintenance over 33 months | £6,600 to £16,500 | £3,300 to £8,250 | Assumption £150 a month: £4,950 |
| Three-year total | £25,100 to £64,300 | £10,300 to £25,050 | £15,350 to £19,650 |
Kolonell maintenance beyond 3 months is on quote: the line above is a budget assumption. Photography and drone work cost the same whichever web provider you choose.
Lock these down in writing:
- Photo licence: under UK law the photographer generally keeps copyright in commissioned images. Negotiate a licence covering the website, press, award entries and social media.
- Drone: the pilot must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority and follow the flight rules.
- Domain, hosting and code repository in the practice's name.
- Form data: a processing agreement that meets UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, cookies compliant with PECR.
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA target, descriptive alt text for every image, an accessibility statement. The Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments.
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This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Priya Shah, director of a 14-person Cambridge practice specialising in labs and workplaces, compares a local agency quote of £26,000 plus £300 a month with Kolonell Premium at £6,900.
- Agency over 3 years: 26,000 + (300 × 33) = £35,900.
- Remote studio: 6,900 + (150 × 33 as an assumption) = £11,850.
- Difference: £24,050, excluding photography, which is the same in both cases.
She reinvests £8,000 of the difference in a photo campaign covering four completed projects. A single shortlist won on a lab fit-out worth £180,000 in fees is 15 times the full cost of the site.
FAQ
Can a remote studio handle hundreds of heavy images?
Yes, as long as images are automatically converted to AVIF or WebP in several sizes. A portfolio of 300 photos can stay under 2.5 seconds LCP on mobile with lazy loading.
How do we show projects under a non-disclosure agreement?
Publish a page with no name or address, giving type, floor area and technical challenge, for example 2,400 m² laboratory in an occupied building. Get the client's written consent for any recognisable exterior photo.
Can we describe all our staff as architects?
No: in the UK the title has been reserved for people on the ARB register since the Architects Act 1997. Check every profile on the team page, which often lists 10 to 20 people.
How long does it take to add a project?
With well designed templates, 15 to 20 minutes per page. Test this in a demo before you sign.
Do we need a French version?
If you work with French-speaking labs or investors, translate at least the home page, portfolio and contact page, which is 5 to 8 pages. Kolonell includes native English or French copywriting.
For a precise estimate of your portfolio, request a free quote.
Let's scope your project. A filterable portfolio site with technical project pages and a CMS, from £3,900 to £6,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.