Sciontec reimagines new build to meet lab demand

The latest vision has been revealed for Sciontec’s first new build scheme at Liverpool City Council’s flagship development site, Paddington Village.Sciontec Developments Ltd, which owns Liverpool Science Park and manages innovative workspace at The Spine, has updated its plans for its eco-trailblazer new build, HEMISPHERE.The building will now be home to 50,000 sq ft of data, bio and innovation laboratories, while also including the city region’s newest operational Net Zero carbon workspaces.The provision of additional high-quality laboratory space is said to be “greatly required”, with demand for chemistry and life sciences laboratories within the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) innovation district at an “all time high”. The existing commercial laboratories at Liverpool Science Park are also continuing to operate at full capacity.HEMISPHERE, which received initial planning consent at the end of 2022, will now comprise of purpose-built laboratory space equating to half of the building. This will provide a bespoke home for cutting-edge commercial and academic laboratories in which the world’s best minds can seize the potential of ground-breaking new technologies.The latest plans for HEMISPHERE also include Sciontec’s flexible, all inclusive, workspace product, Sciontec AI – which has recently expanded its operations at neighbouring building The Spine, which is owned by Liverpool City Council.The new build will also feature a multi-purpose events space, a coffee shop, networking lounge and wellness studio.Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for growth and economy, said: “The addition of HEMISPHERE will be a great asset to Paddington Village and to our growing knowledge economy. It’s hugely encouraging that Sciontec has updated its plans for what will be a fantastic building, as it demonstrates the demand in Liverpool for high quality laboratory space.”It bodes well for the future and there’s even more developments in the pipeline at Paddington Village to ensure we continue to capitalise on our world class offer in life sciences.”Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “With world leading industry clusters in infectious disease control, materials chemistry, and AI, all on our doorstep, we have a thriving innovation economy.”But to keep it growing, it’s vital that we are not only able to offer businesses the high-tech, sustainable office space they need to flourish but much-needed lab space too. HEMISPHERE will help take us there.”Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec and KQ Liverpool, said: “The labs within HEMISPHERE will be a shop window to the world for health and life sciences, net zero carbon innovation and technology.”By providing much needed grow-on space for existing lab customers, as well as bringing new labs to market, we will ensure that Liverpool City Region remains an attractive destination for business growth.”The building has been designed by the mastermind behind The Spine, Robert Hopkins from AHR Architects,and CBRE and Knight Frank have been retained as agents.