GMI Construction Group has announced the practical completion of Citylabs 4.0, a cutting-edge 125,000 sq. ft laboratory and workspace development, further solidifying Manchester’s position as a leader in life sciences and healthcare technology.

Developed in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the £42m project is the latest addition to the thriving Citylabs campus, an innovation hub supporting diagnostics, medtech, digital health, and genomics businesses.

Located within the MFT campus—the largest NHS Trust in England—Citylabs 4.0 provides a world-class environment for start-ups, scale-ups, and global corporations working in precision medicine, diagnostics, biotech, AI-driven healthcare, and genomics. The development offers direct access to the NHS, top academic institutions, and a pipeline of over 20,000 STEM graduates annually.

The seven-storey facility is designed to accommodate the specific needs of life science businesses, featuring containment level 1 and 2 biology and chemistry labs, enhanced cooling and ventilation systems, and high-capacity floor loading for specialized equipment.

Citylabs 4.0 is a Net Zero carbon development, achieving sustainability milestones in both construction and operation. It is fully electric with an EPC A rating, BREEAM Very Good certification, and a NABERS 5-star rating. The building incorporates 208m² of solar panels and a cladding system made from 75% recycled post-consumer aluminium, setting a new standard for sustainable developments in the life sciences sector.

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Anthony Judge, Regional Director, North West, at GMI Construction Group, stated: "The completion of Citylabs 4.0 is a landmark achievement for GMI and strengthens our partnership with Bruntwood SciTech. This facility will foster innovation in healthcare by providing specialist spaces for pioneering medical solutions. We are proud to contribute to a project that not only elevates Manchester's reputation in life sciences but also prioritizes sustainability and collaboration."

GMI was awarded a £33m contract for Citylabs 4.0 and is also delivering the £87m No. 3 Circle Square development for Bruntwood SciTech, a 287,000 sq. ft sustainable office space scheduled for completion this spring.

Designed by Sheppard Robson, with contributions from Arup, Hilson Moran, Gardiner & Theobald, and Layers, the project was supported by a £32m senior loan from the North West Evergreen Fund, managed by CBRE’s Investment Advisory team.

Part of the wider Citylabs masterplan, which houses major players such as Qiagen, APIS Assay Technologies, and Takagi, Citylabs 4.0 expands the campus footprint from 192,000 sq. ft to 327,000 sq. ft.

The hub is surrounded by some of the UK's leading teaching hospitals, including Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary’s Hospital, and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, all under MFT. It also sits within close proximity to world-renowned research institutions, such as the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the Pankhurst Institute, and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.

Additionally, businesses within Citylabs benefit from the Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter, home to more than half of Manchester’s life science businesses, generating approximately £3bn GVA annually. The area is also a government-designated High Potential Opportunity Zone for Diagnostics and Healthy Ageing, further enhancing its appeal to global innovators in healthcare technology.