Preferred contractor appointed to deliver £61m Sciontec labs and workspace scheme

Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed by Sciontec as preferred contractor to build its HEMISPHERE One laboratory and workspace development in Liverpool.

Sciontec is a spin-out company of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) and is a partnership between Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, and Bruntwood SciTech.

The £61m, 117,190 net sq ft development will be located at Paddington Village, Liverpool City Council’s flagship development site in the city’s Knowledge Quarter innovation district.

HEMISPHERE One is part of a two-phase project, alongside HEMISPHERE Two, that will ultimately offer a combined net total 216,693 sq ft of chemistry labs, data labs, bio labs and innovation labs, alongside incubator space, grow-on and commercial lab space.

Procurement for HEMISPHERE Two will be managed via a separate tender process at a later date.

Morgan Sindall will support Sciontec in refining the technical design and allow for smooth transition into the construction phase of the project, which is expected to start on site in the autumn.

The appointment follows a competitive tender process coordinated through the North West Construction Hub High Value Framework.

Morgan Sindall previously delivered The Spine, a 160,000 sq ft commercial building which is home to the Royal College of Physicians, adjacent to the site of HEMISPHERE One.

CGI of a HEMISPHERE lab

Sciontec has already reached outline letting agreements prior to work commencing at HEMISPHERE One.

Earlier this year, HEMISPHERE One was allocated a £13m funding package from the Government to support completion of the project.

Colin Sinclair, Sciontec CEO, said: “We are bringing HEMISPHERE One and Two forward to satisfy the rocketing demand for high quality lab space in Liverpool city centre and support delivery of the city region’s Innovation Zone ambitions.

“The appointment of a trusted and experienced main contractor in Morgan Sindall allows us to now confidently move ahead with finalising the designs and commencing shell and core work over the coming months.”

He added: “While we are advancing with pre-let agreements, we also hope that this latest step forward will offer confidence to the wider market and future innovation occupiers that Liverpool can deliver excellent new developments at scale.”

Steven Gregory, North West area director at Morgan Sindall, said: “It’s an honour to return to Paddington Village to help shape the latest transformational project within the Knowledge Quarter. This is an exciting time for the city region, with the Innovation Zone set to make it a life science powerhouse.

“As such, HEMISPHERE One is strategically important for the city region and our wealth of experience when it comes to delivering high performance science and technology schemes means we are well placed to take this project forward.

“The exceptional facilities we will build will create the perfect environment for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, enabling world leading researchers and scientists to deliver work that will result in better patient outcomes.”

The Paddington Village development was enabled with the help of a £12m Liverpool City Region Combined Authority grant to pay for infrastructure work, including demolition and bringing services to the central 8.4 acres of the 30-acre site.

HEMISPHERE One is set to also receive up to £13m from the Government as a result of the Liverpool Strategic Futures Panel and a £1.5m allocation from the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone, part of the Government’s Investment Zone programme.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The development of HEMISPHERE One isn’t just another building project – it’s a clear demonstration of our region’s determination to be at the forefront of global innovation and life sciences.

“This cutting-edge facility will not only house world leading research, but foster a culture of collaboration between scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

“By creating spaces where brilliant minds can come together, we are setting the stage for breakthrough discoveries that will benefit not only the Liverpool City Region but the world.”

Worthington Owen and Avison Young have been appointed as agents for HEMISPHERE One.

Sciontec has also selected Carter Jonas as leasing agent for HEMISPHERE Two.

Colin Sinclair said: “As we move closer to starting on site at HEMISPHERE One, we are also focused on the exciting opportunities around HEMISPHERE Two as a further location for world leading research and a place for innovators and pioneers to collaborate.”

Matt Lee, partner and head of science and technology at Carter Jonas, said: “Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter has evolved into a dynamic hub for innovation and research, with a strong emphasis on life science, material science and clean technology.

“We are pleased to be working with Sciontec on the development of HEMISPHERE Two. This initiative will further enhance the vibrant and diverse community of innovative businesses in the area, fostering an environment of R&D and collaboration.”