Liverpool’s Sensor City reaches completion

Sensor City, Liverpool’s new government-backed hub for sensor technology development, has reached practical completion and welcomed its first tenant.

Kier Construction has completed works on the £15m, 25,000 sq ft scheme on Russell Street in the Knowledge Quarter and handed over to the fit-out team.

The centre, designed by architect IBI Group, is a joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University and is classed as one of the UK’s four University Enterprise Zones.

Sensor City has received £5m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and £5m from the Deparment for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy, as well as ongoing support from the university partners.

Fatigue Management International, which works to improve driver safety through the detection of fatigue via sensor technology, will be the first tenant, having taken a 344 sq ft suite on the second floor. FMI has developed an early warning system called ASTiD to make drivers aware of their limitations and has started a three-year R&D programme.

Dr Joanne Phoenix, business development manager at Sensor City, said: “The practical completion of Sensor City is an exciting milestone, as it allows us to finally open our doors to organisations that are looking to bring their ground-breaking sensor technology ideas to market.”

There are 21 flexible suites available to let at Sensor City, ranging from 140 sq ft to 849 sq ft, along with hotdesking and collaborative work spaces. The building also includes specialised lab space for sensor and Internet of Things technology.

Cushman & Wakefield is agent and Buro Four is project manager on the scheme.