Member Article

Morgan Sindall win £7m Liverpool Science Park contract

Construction firm Morgan Sindall has won a £7m contract to develop Liverpool Science Park, which is based in the city’s Knowledge Quarter.

The company has been commissioned to build a new four-storey office block at LSP, which is based next to Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

Built on a 0.55 hectare site, the project will be named Innovation Centre 3 (ic3) and will provide 3,750 sq m of office and laboratory facilities.

Startup businesses and young entrepreneurs will be welcomed to the new building’s purpose-built ‘starter pods’, while an open innovation space will be available to all tenants, which is part of a joint-project between Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Council.

Chris Musson, chief executive of LSP, commented: “Building ic3 marks the next exciting stage of growth at the park and will really help to drive forward Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter.

“The flexible office and laboratory space available in ic3 from next spring will be a great asset to the city region and reinforce the message that Liverpool is a world-class destination for commercial knowledge enterprise.”

ic3 will be built on the existing centre’s car park and has been designed by Liverpool-based Ryder Architecture.

A two-storey bridge will connect the new building to the current site, and will feature full length windows installed to maximise on natural light.

Approximately 60 jobs will be created through the project’s construction, and the developers expect to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ as a result of the build’s sustainable elements.

Morgan Sindall hope the project will play a vital role in Liverpool’s commercial knowledge economy, and said it will provide much needed research and development spaces to support the region’s life and physical science sectors.

Barry Roberts, area director for the company in Liverpool, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this exciting development in such an iconic area of the city.

“ic3 will provide first-class facilities for innovative, growing businesses while also providing contemporary office and social space, which will help to facilitate engagement between the science and business communities.

“Morgan Sindall is well versed in constructing specialist laboratory and office space and we are looking forward to bringing this knowledge to bear on this project.

“This project is a testament to our commitment to the city of Liverpool and in supporting local employment.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .