Sciontec sets sights on May start for Hemisphere
Main contractor Morgan Sindall is lined up to deliver the 150,000 sq ft Liverpool lab and office complex in time for an early 2029 completion.
Sciontec’s Hemisphere is made up of two eight-storey buildings in the Knowledge Quarter and has secured £13m from the government for its delivery.
It is among the projects chosen by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to receive a portion of the combined authority’s £2bn investment fund.
With the May start date in hand, Sciontec said it was already in multiple pre-let discussions for the building.
“Our HEMISPHERE development is attracting interest from external high-growth science, technology, and health sector businesses,” said Sciontec chair Barbara Spicer.
“Sciontec has a strong track record of operating some of the world’s most innovative science and technology workspaces, and is proud to already be home to over 100 innovation-led companies within its portfolio.
“We look forward to welcoming them into our innovation ecosystem which has both the ambition and capacity for long-term growth.”
The interest in Hemisphere builds upon a recent 1,600 letting at Sciontec’s Liverpool Science Park to MEDITECH UK, as well as lease deals with Robotiz3d, Genetix, and Coretech Sciences.
Leanne Katsande, head of commercial at Sciontec, said: “Despite wide-spread economic challenges, we have experienced increasing interest in our city centre workspaces – laboratories in particular – from forward thinking organisations who want to land or expand within Liverpool.
“Our Hemisphere development will not only make Liverpool City Region a more attractive destination for global businesses to locate within, but also increase the supply of high quality, city centre labs for local, scaling businesses to move into.”
On Morgan Sindall’s part, area director Steven Gregory said: “We’re proud to be working with Sciontec to bring Hemisphere to life and look forward to starting on site in May 2027. It’s an exciting project for Liverpool and its growing life sciences sector.”
Hemisphere has been designed by AHR Architects and received planning permission in 2023. Its project team at the time included Stantec, Curtins, Design Fire, Wintech, Flinders Chase, RSK Acoustics, RSK, and Walker Sime.
Since 2023, its façade has undergone a redesign and it has been reconfigured to include labs.
To see those original plans, search reference 22F/1813 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
Sciontec is a consortium made up of Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, and Bruntwood SciTech.
