BDP designed Greenheys completes at Manchester Science Park
Greenheys, a 131,000 sq ft laboratory and research building at Manchester Science Park, has been completed, providing a new home for UK Biobank and a major new facility for life sciences research in Manchester.
Designed by architects from BDP, the project also saw the practice manage the interior design, landscape architecture and acoustics, bringing the different disciplines together around the demanding technical requirements of a modern research facility.
Delivered for Bruntwood SciTech- a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - and constructed by Willmott Dixon, the new state-of-the-art innovation hub sits within Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and will become the new headquarters and research facility for UK Biobank.
Greenheys provides flexible Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratory and write-up space for organisations working across life sciences, biotechnology and advanced diagnostics. Its three floors of specialist laboratory space are supported by sophisticated ventilation and cooling systems, dedicated fume extraction, high-specification local exhaust ventilation and infrastructure designed to handle the movement and storage of biological samples and specialist equipment.
The building is designed to be fully electric and is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. It also includes Manchester city centre’s largest living wall, with 160,000 plants covering 1,700 sq m, creating habitats for pollinators and more than 125 species of invertebrates, while helping to improve air quality in the surrounding area.
Alongside the technical demands of the laboratories, BDP’s design creates spaces for people to meet, work and take a break, with shared breakout areas, meeting facilities, cycle storage and changing facilities with access to a nearby gym and cafe. The landscape design extends this approach beyond the building, bringing planting and green space into the wider campus setting.
The building is now preparing for UK Biobank’s move from its existing facilities in Stockport. The organisation is relocating around 11 million biological samples to Greenheys, alongside around half of its 400-strong team. The new facility is expected to increase the capacity and speed of its research, strengthening links with Manchester’s universities, hospitals and wider life sciences community.
“Greenheys had to do two things well: provide the highly technical infrastructure that serious scientific research demands, and create a building where people can do meaningful and impactful work. Bringing those requirements together is what made this project interesting.
“It is also a great example of what can be achieved when multiple disciplines combine as one joined-up piece of design. The result is a building that is ready for the demands of the UK life sciences industry, while making a strong contribution to the Oxford Road Corridor and Manchester’s growing research economy.”
Sam Darby, Development Director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Manchester and the wider North West stands at the crossroads of a significant opportunity for economic development. The huge potential of the region’s innovation sector hinges on the development of the networks and spaces that ambitious businesses need to grow. Greenheys is part of our response to that need and marks a significant moment in the ongoing delivery of specialist infrastructure across the city. The building has been created for ambitious, research-led organisations that need high-quality lab space, access to exceptional talent and direct connections into a world-class research, clinical and academic ecosystem.
“Reaching this milestone also strengthens Manchester Science Park’s role as a key part of the city’s innovation infrastructure, while bringing us an important step closer to welcoming UK Biobank to its new headquarters. At Greenheys we have the capacity to support a whole host of other organisations operating at the very highest level of scientific discovery; helping them to collaborate, attract talent and accelerate impact.”
The project forms the latest phase of Manchester Science Park’s wider development, strengthening the Oxford Road Corridor as a centre for science, technology and innovation. Its delivery also kept significant economic value within the region, with 99% of the project spend going to businesses within 40 miles of the site.
Greenheys is a prime example of BDP’s multidisciplinary approach to science, technology and research buildings, combining architecture and specialist design expertise to create environments that can adapt as the industry and the needs of scientists and researchers evolve.