The £20m project, due for completion in late 2018, will see the design and construction of a new 77,000 sq ft laboratory facility for Newcastle City Council and forms part of the wider Newcastle Science Central development in the city.
The building will provide bespoke laboratory areas, offering high quality incubation space to meet the needs of innovative businesses in the life science and healthcare sector.
Newcastle Science Central is a new urban quarter in the centre of Newcastle that will provide 500,000 sq ft of office space. The largest development of its kind in the UK worth £250m, it will attract leading scientific and technology organisations to the area encompassing a variety of research and development, educational, business and residential uses.
Commenting on the build, Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Construction Scotland and north east, said: “We’re looking forward to delivering this new bespoke laboratory facility, building on our expertise in the biotech sector. Kier has extensive experience delivering research facilities and we’re proud to be providing the latest addition to Science Central development as it continues to expand.”
Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council said “there’s a shortage of specialist laboratory space in the city” therefore such investment is welcomed to the city.
“Newcastle Laboratory will provide this flourishing sector with the much needed specialist facilities - enabling life science organisations to continue growing, innovating and producing pioneering research and products. Newcastle Science Central provides the perfect home for these specialist facilities, and as the flagship location for life sciences, it provides the infrastructure businesses need to collaborate as well as globally-renowned academics and students also based on site.”
The building has been developed by a design team led by Aura alongside award-winning architects Ryder, who have been supported by leading industry specialists including CAM-SCI, to ensure the building meets the needs of the healthcare and life sciences sector.
