Skip to main content
Start of main content

The coming together of a handful of disparate sciences that have one common link: life

At a Glance

  • 600

    Research Staff

  • 75

    Research Groups

  • 13.1K

    Square Meters

Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Offices
Awards
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Excellence in Design, 2006 Building of the Year
Roses Award, 2006 Design Awards, Public Building, Bronze
Institution of Structural Engineers Award, Structural Awards, Best Education, 2006 Commendation

Manchester Institute of Biotechnology

The Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB) is an architectural gem which quickly won critical approval, picking up local, national and international awards. It represents the new face of research in the UK and an electrophoretic DNA fenestration pattern proudly identifies the MIB as a building of science.

So, how do you get multi-skilled scientists from different disciplines to cross boundaries and work together? The MIB is home to a diverse community of researchers from six disciplines—biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computation and engineering. What Stantec’s design does is create opportunities for these researchers to interact. Using spatial analysis technology during the design stages, it was possible to predict people’s movements and identify traffic hot spots. By locating kitchen, social, and informal meeting areas at these hot spots we significantly increased the chance meetings between a wide variety of researchers and impromptu discussions.

Materials inspired by Manchester’s important civic buildings are used to codify the MIB. The offices are clad in limestone with extensive glazing towards the street, while copper was used to clad the labs. The MIB is a new landmark for Manchester.

At a Glance

  • 600

    Research Staff

  • 75

    Research Groups

  • 13.1K

    Square Meters

Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Offices
Awards
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Excellence in Design, 2006 Building of the Year
Roses Award, 2006 Design Awards, Public Building, Bronze
Institution of Structural Engineers Award, Structural Awards, Best Education, 2006 Commendation

Meet Our Team

Christina Cattelan, Senior Associate, Project Leader

A head teacher recently remarked, ‘I can’t believe it, this is wonderful, exactly what you presented to us all that time ago.’ Sometimes delight is derived from simply joining the dots.

David Martin, Vice President, Global Design Director, Buildings

My passion is engaging with our clients, synthesizing their needs and opportunities into a convergence of form, function, and beauty.
David Martin Vice President, Global Design Director, Buildings Read More

Christina Cattelan

Senior Associate, Project Leader

David Martin

Vice President, Global Design Director, Buildings

We’re better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

End of main content
To top