Citylabs 2.0 nears completion

Main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine has reached practical completion on the £25m and 92,000 sq ft Manchester development, to be occupied in full by life sciences firm Qiagen.

The Citylabs campus within the healthcare-focused Oxford Road corridor is being developed by Manchester Science Partnerships and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust as a hub for companies working in areas such as medtech, digital health, genomics, precision medicine, data analysis and diagnostics.

Qiagen will now start fit out on the building, ahead of moving in next year. Citylabs 2.0 is part of a £95m expansion to the campus, with the next stage being 4.0,, which received consent earlier this year.

Citylabs 2.0 was designed by architect Sheppard Robson, with the professional team also including BuroFour, Gardiner & Theobald, Hilson Moran, Arup and Planit, with work continuing throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Citylabs 2.0 is opposite Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on the MFT campus

A global life sciences and diagnostics company, currently with a base close by on Manchester Science Park, Qiagen employs more than 5,100 people across 35 countries and will use Citylabs 2.0 as its global centre of excellence for precision medicine.

Qiagen first announced its intention to move to Citylabs 2.0 in 2017 as part of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy. When the fit out completes in 2021 the business will relocate into the space.

Tom Renn, managing director of MSP and Bruntwood SciTech’s Manchester operation, said: “Our long-term vision for the Citylabs campus is now one step closer in realising its goal to become a world-class centre for diagnostics and health innovation.

“The last few months have showcased the importance of the life sciences sector and particularly diagnostics to society, the jobs it creates and its role in driving the UK forward globally. Qiagen has been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 as a leading developer and manufacturer of test kits to help track the virus.

“Its expansion into Citylabs 2.0 will act as a magnet for complementary businesses – from start-ups to scale-ups and R&D centres of excellence – helping strengthen the ecosystem of the Oxford Road Corridor innovation district.”

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Funding partners include European Regional Development Fund

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