The Spine breaks ground at Knowledge Quarter

Work has begun on The Spine, the Royal College of Physicians’ £35m Northern headquarters in Liverpool, being built by Morgan Sindall.

The 160,000 sq ft building in the £1bn Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone takes its name from a staircase on its North elevation that is meant to resemble human vertabrae.

The design is targetting an emphasis on physical and mental wellbeing, and is aiming to be one of the first buildings to to get the international Well standard of building design when it completes in 2020.

The bottom three and top four storeys of The Spine will become a 70,000 sq ft centre of clinical excellence for the RCP, and the remaining seven floors will offer a range of offices designed for organisations in the health, science and education sectors.

The Spine will include an internal sky garden with high-oxygen producing plants, a fine dining restaurant available for private hire, a bicycle and shower facility and under croft car parking for 50 spaces featuring five electric charging points.

AHR Architects and Arup are advising on building design.

GVA and CBRE have been appointed as joint agents on the Paddington Village scheme and will be launching a marketing brochure at MIPIM UK later this week.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I’m delighted that work has now begun on the new northern HQ for the Royal College of Physicians – it’s a landmark moment for them and the city of Liverpool. The Spine is going to be an outstanding building and a real statement of our intent to deliver a world class medical research hub at Paddington Village. Its opening will be a historic occasion and one of many which will cement the flourishing reputation of the city’s knowledge sector and its role as a major economic engine in the North of England.”

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LCR doesn’t half miss Carillion.

By Aimraed Hanrahan

Great coup for the city and what a fantastic project all round.

By Ryan

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