Base

Base is a new specialist hub in Manchester Science Park from Bruntwood SciTech, offering a 21m, 91,000 sq ft new home for businesses working in Industry 4.0 sectors including low carbon, computer and energy technology, gaming and animation, building on the region’s internationally-recognised tech and manufacturing cluster.

Base offers a flexible, secure, leased or managed sustainable office space, with maker space workshop capability available, and in addition to all the facilities readily available at Manchester Science Park it includes a 24-person boardroom, multiple other meeting rooms, and a roof terrace event space. 

Bradley Topps, commercial director at Bruntwood SciTech, commented: “Our long-term vision for Manchester Science Park is one step closer as Base reaches its completion milestone. Base will play a significant role in supporting the growth of Manchester’s knowledge economy and will become a new specialist hub in the city, building on the region’s internationally recognised tech and manufacturing cluster.

“The construction of Base during one of the toughest economic and uncertain periods of our time has been no mean feat but it’s a testament to the resilience and sheer commitment of our internal project team, Caddick, and the wider contractor team that we complete the build almost to the same timings that we intended when the building was designed, long before the pandemic began. We have a sustained commitment to investing in Manchester’s knowledge infrastructure for science and tech businesses.

Base is the first new development at Manchester Science Park to incorporate measures towards the achievement of Net Zero Carbon; including an A-rated EPC together with 750 m2 of PV solar power providing 20% of the building’s energy demand and reducing its carbon footprint by 22%, and a hybrid heating and cooling system utilising water as a heat transfer. Demand Side Response has also been integrated into the Building Management System to allow power to be drawn directly from solar PV or battery storage. Battery capability is also installed for future use, similar to that in place at the neighbouring Bright Building.

The surrounding area will also be redeveloped providing additional green space and areas to socialise or have external informal meetings on the campus, and to improve the West / East link through the campus for local residents and customers to Oxford Road. This investment will include 50 new trees and ecological enhancements such as fruit trees, wild grasses, bird nest boxes, and below ground bumblebee hives.