8
NEWS
CULTURAL DESIGN
BDP-designed life sciences centre completes in Manchester
Greenheys, a 131,000 ft2 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 fl exible Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratory and write- up space for organisations working across life sciences, biotechnology and advanced diagnostics. Its three fl oors of
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, creating habitats for pollinators and more than 125 species of invertebrates, while helping to improve air quality in the surrounding area.
specialist laboratory space are supported by sophisticated ventilation and cooling systems, dedicated fume extraction, high- specifi cation 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 m2
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 11m 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. 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 signifi cant 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.
ADF SEPTEMBER 2026
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