The 'Project Capella' scheme, designed by architects The Fairhursts Design Group, will be delivered by Kier.
The development team includes includes Arup as consulting engineers, Arcadis as project managers and Aecom as cost consultants.
The six-storey 18,000 sq m centre will contain laboratory spaces alongside office and meeting suites.
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In addition, a 'green screen' will be developed to enhance the 'Oval', a public area adjacent to the building, and a bespoke timber frame structure with a green 'wildflower blanket' roof will provide 324 cycle spaces on site.
The facility will also be built to a BREAAM 'Excellent' rating.
Kier project lead, Shak Chowdhury, said: "Project Capella is a great example of how lean construction techniques can be used in the development of a project to get it from the drawing board and into construction in the shortest timeframe.
"This open and transparent approach has enabled an £79m complex research facility to progress from having no design to being on site in just 12 months."
The project is due to be completed in 2018.
(LM/CD)
