Citylabs 4.0

Citylabs 4.0, Manchester is a state-of-the-art, 125,000 sq. ft seven-storey life science and healthcare innovation building for repeat client Bruntwood SciTech in a joint venture with Manchester University NHS Foundation (MFT). It forms part of Europe’s largest clinical
academic campus, and the CityLabs cluster, which is home to a community of diagnostics, MedTech, digital health and genomics businesses to drive the future of healthcare.

The new development provides world-class environment for start-ups, scale-ups, and global corporates in life sciences and healthcare technology and offers access to the NHS, leading academic institutions and over 20,000 STEM graduates annually, making it an ideal setting for businesses at the forefront. Part of the wider Citylabs masterplan, already home to major players such as Qiagen, APIS Assay Technologies, and Takagi, it expands the campus from 192,000 sq. ft to 327,000 sq. ft. The seven-storey facility feature cutting-edge infrastructure tailored to the needs of businesses in precision medicine, diagnostics, biotech, medtech, AI driven healthcare, and genomics.

Key specifications include containment level 1 and 2 (CL2) biology and Chemistry Labs, enhanced cooling and ventilation systems and high capacity floor loadings to support specialist equipment and a large high load platform lift.

Construction comprised steel frame with SFS and curtain wall façade and external works. It incorporates 208m2 of solar panel and a highly energy-efficient system made from 75% recycled post-consumer aluminium, setting a new benchmark for sustainable development in the life sciences sector. This means it has one of the smallest carbon dioxide footprints worldwide; seven times less than the global aluminium production average.

Located on the Oxford Road campus the building is constrained by live operational buildings, roadways and pedestrian routes, requiring detailed stakeholder engagement throughout, from PCSA to project completion.

Our regional Responsible Business team developed a bespoke Social Value Plan for Citylabs 4.0 using local, regional and national initiatives and programmes as soon as we were committed to the project. Working alongside the project and regional teams they delivered an outstanding 36.52% social value equating to £12.7m in social value delivery. The GMI team successfully achieved Considerate Constructors Score full marks (46/45), maintaining the projects perfect track record of ‘Outstanding’.

Good relationships were key to maintaining a smoothrunning programme and mitigating any complaints. Our Project Manager provided logistics updates and liaised closely with stakeholders, local business occupiers and neighbours. This project was delivered on time and budget to a high specification on behalf of our client who were delighted with the product, despite major constraints with site parameters.

We are extremely proud to have delivered a development that not only enhances Manchester’s position as a global leader in life sciences, but one that prioritises sustainability and collaboration. The project achieved exceptional delivery as it was delivered both on time and budget to a client who were thrilled with the world-leading, highly specialist space specifically designed to support companies working in precision medicine, including those in diagnostics, genomics, biotech, medtech and digital health allow them to thrive and deliver. The development provides a unique platform to involve clinicians, patients, and communities, at the start of the research and innovation.