The project
The Greenheys redevelopment is a BREEAM Excellent-rated state-of-the-art six storey laboratory building forming part of phase 3 the masterplan for the growth of Manchester Science Park.
The development will house UK Biobank’s new headquarters on the ground and first floors, with a further 61,000 ft2 of containment level 2 (CL2) laboratory and write–up spaces on the upper floors for businesses involved in the diagnostics, genomics, biotech and precision medicine industries.
Our contribution
Silcock Leedham was appointed by Bruntwood SciTech to provide full mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) building services consultancy, including BREEAM assessment from the initial appraisal at RIBA Stage 2 to RIBA Stage 4ii.
Mechanical and electrical services have been designed for flexibility, efficiency and resilience in operation.
The base load of heating and cooling is provided by heat pumps capable of simultaneous heating and cooling, supplemented by reversible units to cover peak loads to optimise energy efficiency under all conditions.
The central variable volume general supply and extract and local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems will all operate together to maintain comfort conditions, ventilation rates and the pressure regime between spaces at all times throughout the building.
All laboratory suites are provided with connection points for domestic and process water services, laboratory gases and compressed air.
Multiple systems will be provided to protect the operation of the ultra-low-temperature archives, including liquid nitrogen based backup refrigeration systems, gaseous fire suppression and standby power supplies with additional generator plug-in points for further resilience.
