GMI Construction, the lead construction contractor for the development of Citylabs 4.0, has topped out in this £42m project.
Anthony Judge, Regional Director, North West, at GMI Construction Group, said: “The topping out of Citylabs 4.0 marks a significant achievement for GMI and our delivery partners."
"This state-of-the-art facility is set to become a hub for innovation in precision medicine and life sciences and we are extremely proud to be part of a project that will drive advancements in healthcare diagnostics and treatments and foster collaboration between businesses and leading research institutions," Judge concluded.
This state-of-the-art facility is set to become a hub for innovation in precision medicine and life sciences
The building was designed by Sheppard Robson, and local teams also working on the development include Arup, Hilson Moran, Gardiner and Theobald, and Layers.
The new lab and workspace is expected to be completed in Spring 2025 and is a joint venture partnership between Bruntwood SciTech and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).
Further, Citylabs 4.0 is the latest project from Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s leading developer of city-wide innovation ecosystems, and the largest dedicated property platform for the UK knowledge economy.
Once complete, Citylabs 4.0 will be a 125,000 sqft, seven-storey lab and workspace
Once complete, Citylabs 4.0 will be a 125,000 sqft, seven-storey lab and workspace located within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus.
Citylabs 4.0 will also include containment level 2 (CL2) biology and chemistry labs and specialist equipment, including:
- Increased floor loading
- Enhanced cooling systems and ventilation provisions
- A large platform lift
Mark Cubbon, MFT Group Chief Executive, said: "The pioneering partnership between MFT and Bruntwood SciTech, starting with the first Citylabs development 10 years ago, is a legacy to the late and visionary Keith Chantler, our former Director of Innovation, who was instrumental in the creation of the Citylabs project."
“We are proud of the progress over the last decade and the real difference it has made in enabling us to tackle health inequalities in our communities and address some of the most pressing health challenges we face. We look forward to welcoming new partners from the life sciences industry to co-locate through Citylabs 4.0, along with the opportunity to develop our hosted research and innovation infrastructure at MFT,” Cubbon concluded.
A sustainable development
The development of Citylabs 4.0 is the third phase in the Citylabs masterplan taking the campus from 192,000 sqft to 327,000 sqft, adding to the existing health innovation cluster at Citylabs, which is home to more than 20 life science and healthcare businesses.
Citylabs 4.0 is expected to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces and will be 100% electric
Additionally, Citylabs 4.0 is expected to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces and will be 100% electric.
As a highly energy efficient building, it is targeted to be EPC A and include 208m of solar panels, enough to charge an average electric car approximately 1235 times.
The building’s cladding system will be made from 75% recycled end-of-life aluminium (post-consumer scrap), meaning its content will have one of the smallest carbon dioxide footprints worldwide; seven times less than the global average for aluminium production.