Designs revealed for Royal College of Physicians’ new Liverpool base

Construction company Morgan Sindall has unveiled new designs for the Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) Liverpool HQ with the appointment of AHR Architects.

Located within the city’s Knowledge Quarter development, the £35m scheme will comprise 140,000 sq ft space, with RCP occupying 70,000 sq ft for its landmark Northern Centre of Excellence.

Work is now gathering pace on phase one of the project, which Liverpool City Council said will incorporate features directly relating to positive health and wellbeing.

The building will offer large, open-air spaces and flexible floorplates to encourage collaborative working between RCP fellows and members across the North.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “The signing of RCP North was a key moment for Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and underlined the international importance of the site.

“I’m delighted to see the RCP, with Morgan Sindall, are creating a building befitting the aspirations and ambitions we all have to make Knowledge Quarter Liverpool a world leader in its field and a major engine of the city’s economy.”

Morgan Sindall’s North West area director, Barry Roberts, commented: “We’re delighted to announce AHR’s appointment to this iconic scheme which will provide a new home for the RCP in the North West.

“Their highly sustainable, innovative design will deliver an iconic building, inspired by well-being. RCP headquarters will sit at the heart of Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, and will provide an outstanding environment where academia, and research will play a key role in driving forward business and innovation.”

AHR director Dominic Manfredi said the architecture practice is “honoured” to be working on the project.

He said: “[We] look forward to working with the RCP to create a landmark building that can help to deliver their future vision for the college.

“Our design aims to capture the people-focused vision of the RCP, incorporating features that directly relate to positive well-being and health.”

University of Liverpool vice chancellor Janet Beer, chair of KQ Liverpool, said: “Inspired by the desire to provide services closer to its Northern fellows and members, the Royal College of Physicians is entering an exciting new chapter of its incredible 500-year history by setting up a centre of clinical excellence in Liverpool.”

Prof. Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of Liverpool Health Partners and former RCP president, commented: “We are delighted to see the RCP’s inspirational journey to the North gather pace. Since spearheading the successful bid to bring RCP to Liverpool City Region we would like to congratulate all partner organisations for their hard work in making Phase 1 and Phase 2 happen.

“Next year we look forward to celebrating 500 years of the RCP and we will continue to implement the £2bn, five-year plan that will see Liverpool City Region’s Knowledge Quarter become a global leader in the fields of biomedical science, research and education.”

Morgan Sindall was chosen by the city council to deliver two projects as part of the authority’s Paddington Village scheme, a £1bn extension to the Knowledge Quarter.

Procured through the North West Construction Hub framework, the work forms part of Liverpool City Council’s vision to build on the city’s thriving life science sector by attracting investment, creating skilled jobs and positioning the area as an international destination for life sciences, technology and healthcare.

The 30-acre Paddington Village site will be developed into three plots; Paddington North, Paddington Central and Paddington South.

The first phase, worth around £12m, will begin on site this summer.