A £25 million investment. That’s what it took to build this remarkable Core Technology Facility. Right here before you stands a testament to Manchester’s thriving biotech scene.
The Core Technology Facility isn’t just a building. It’s a vibrant hub. It’s a place where innovation blossoms. Opened in June 2006 it serves as an annex to a nearby bioincubator. This facility provides much-needed space for burgeoning biotech companies.
The Core Technology Facility was a collaborative effort. HBG Ltd won the construction contract. Buro Four managed the project. Fairhurst Design Group designed the impressive architecture. To expedite the process a clever agreement was made. HBG Ltd and UMIC worked simultaneously. The fit-out phase began during the construction. This accelerated the completion significantly.
By December 2005 an impressive 75% of the building was already fitted out. The first tenants moved in just months later. This allowed UMIC to efficiently recruit and train its facilities management team.
The Core Technology Facility boasts impressive amenities. There’s an egg-shaped auditorium. It has a media wall with state-of-the-art ICT support. It can accommodate up to 100 people for conferences or presentations. Beyond the main auditorium are smaller meeting rooms. These vary in size and configuration offering flexibility. Some are soundproofed. All have full ICT capabilities. The building also features a “Street” area. This is a dedicated space for informal meetings and networking. Avenance provides catering services in this area.
The Core Technology Facility is a four-story building. It totals 173000 square feet. Two floors are dedicated to commercial biotech activity. Two other floors house University research activities in life sciences and medicine. Each floor of university research space has 28000 square feet. The building also includes modular laboratories. These laboratories are fitted with write-up and wet-lab areas. There are also flexi-labs. These can be adapted to accommodate wet-labs offices meeting rooms or a combination of these.
The Core Technology Facility is more than just labs and meeting rooms. It includes specialized areas. There’s a bioscience information area. This area caters to companies specializing in bioinformatics medical informatics and software development. Funding came from the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Funds. The University of Manchester also made significant investments.
The Core Technology Facility’s success is reflected in its tenants. For example Renovo a scar prevention company expanded in 2007. They established their European headquarters here. This expansion is a testament to the facility’s appeal and success. The Core Technology Facility isn’t just a building. It is the heart of Manchester’s biotech innovation.