Liverpool’s new HEMISPHERE building design will be a first in the UK for sustainability

HEMISPHERE will become one of first new builds in the UK designed to achieve six global sustainability accreditations.

As part of the pre-let campaign launch, new CGI images and an animation have been released today, showcasing HEMISPHERE by Sciontec, the new £56m development on Paddington Village, in the heart of the fast growing Knowledge Quarter, Liverpool.

As we all increasingly come back together to work, demand is growing for environmentally friendly workspaces like HEMISPHERE. Smart-tech enabled, with global best practice as standard, HEMISPHERE will provide prime Grade A office space, and will be one of the UK’s first new builds with operational Net-Zero, Platinum WELL, BREEAM Excellent, EPC Rated A, WiredScore certified and NABERS 5.5*.

The building is designed for people who care about making places and the environment better and those that are driven by innovation and inclusivity.

Sciontec also announced that it will provide free sustainability guidance to all of its customers, to help them meet their own targets for operational energy use, as part of a green leasing strategy. This will form part of Liverpool City Council’s 10 post-pandemic pledges to stimulate economic growth, forecasting 800 new jobs and supporting 100 apprenticeships during construction alone.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec and KQ Liverpool, said:

“We’re proud to be working with Liverpool City Council, with the support of the City Region, to deliver a holistic approach to creating Paddington Village as an inclusive destination for health, life sciences, tech and digital innovation. Nothing encapsulates that vision more than Paddington’s next new building, the 120,000 sq ft HEMISPHERE.

“HEMISPHERE promises to change the future of work. Operational net zero carbon; designed for people who truly care about the environment, for businesses and agencies who are driven by innovation, inclusivity and wellbeing.”

Situated next door to The Spine – one of the world’s healthiest buildings – HEMISPHERE will be the first new-build development for Sciontec, the owners of Liverpool Science Park, which is already in conversation with a number of potential prelets.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added:

“Developments like this are befitting of a modern, forward-looking city region like ours. Sciontec’s plans for HEMISPHERE encapsulate much of my vision for the region: harnessing the expertise of our world-class universities in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter, attracting nationwide jobs and housing it all in one of the cleanest, greenest buildings in our region – the first to be operationally net zero.

“With world leading industry clusters in infectious disease control, materials chemistry, and AI, all on our doorstep, we have a thriving innovation economy. But to keep it growing, it’s vital that we are able to offer businesses the high-tech, sustainable office space they need to flourish and catapult our area to the forefront of UK innovation. HEMISPHERE will help take us there – and I can’t wait to see it start to take shape!”

HEMISPHERE’s striking architecture has been carefully masterminded by AHR Architects to have its own personality, look and feel, with the name representing the two sides of the human brain, where the right side is creative and imaginative, and left is academic and logical.

Rob Hopkins, director and head of sustainability at AHR, said:

“Today is a great day in realising the vision that we’ve been working with the Sciontec team on for the last two years, and is testament to the passion that they have to deliver a future proofed, sustainable and dynamic environment at a time when the demand for grade A, innovation-led, office space is growing.

“HEMISPHERE will be the first new build office development in the Liverpool City Region, designed to be operational net zero carbon, achieving 55kwh/m2 per year, embodying 30% less carbon than a typical office building, 30% less energy consumption, 40% less glazing and 20% more natural ventilation.”

Set across eight floors, HEMISPHERE will be the most cycling commuter friendly workspace in Liverpool city centre, with 166 secure cycle spaces and e-bike charging facilities. Customers can also take advantage of the Paddington Shuttle, cutting the 15 minute walk uphill to Paddington Village, to a five minute bus journey.

HEMISPHERE will also feature a wellness studio, outdoor workspaces and roof terrace, innovation lab, and multi-purpose event space.

Intentions for the development were first announced in 2021, with support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which has already invested £12m into Paddington Village from the Single Investment Fund.

Sciontec is aiming to break ground at the end of 2023, with a completion date in late 2025.