The gold building that could make Liverpool a science superpower

Old Sensor City building with shiny circuit board cladding to reopen as Central Tech

The former Sensor City building in Liverpool, known for its gold circuit board cladding, is being reopened as Central Tech(Image: Sciontec)

An empty Liverpool landmark known for its gold circuit board cladding is set to reopen as a tech hub that could help make Liverpool a science ‘superpower’.

Sensor City, in Russell Street behind Lime Street station, opened in 2017 with the aim of attracting hi-tech entrepreneurs looking to test their ideas and start businesses. But it closed in 2020 during the pandemic and has been empty since.

Now developer Sciontec, which also runs the busy Liverpool Science Park up the hill, has taken on the gold landmark – and plans to reopen it on May1 as “urban technology building” Central Tech.

Sciotec says the refurbished building will be “a global hub for innovation in health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation”. It’s part of the wider Knowledge Quarter regeneration zone, which includes the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and which stretches to the hilltop Paddington Village site.

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for growth and economy, said: “This announcement of new investment is fantastic news for the city’s Knowledge Quarter and a huge vote of confidence in our blossoming life sciences sector. This building will be an amazing facility and builds on the recent multi-million pound boost for our plans to continue the development of nearby Paddington Village. This kind of investment attracts high quality businesses and high skilled, well-paid jobs and I’ll be delighted to see Central Tech open its doors.”

Sciontec is owned by North West developer Bruntwood SciTech alongside Liverpool council, LJMU and the University of Liverpool. It took over Liverpool Science Park in 2020, and all three buildings there are now operating near to full capacity, Sciontec also developed the landmark Spine tower at Paddington Village and is working on the planned Hemisphere One and Two projects there.

Professor Mark Power, vice-chancellor at LJMU and chair of Sciontec, said: “We are confident that Central Tech will help to create high value jobs in health, science and technology and bring growth to the City Region.”

Trish Wallace, strategic projects and people manager at Sciontec, said: “Liverpool City Region is rapidly becoming a superpower in health and life sciences innovation, so we are pleased to announce our plans to reopen the building and invite anyone that would like to see the space for themselves to contact us.”

Professor Tim Jones, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool has a growing global reputation for digital innovation and Central Tech has the opportunity to help us shift that dial even further, providing a unique, supportive environment where new ideas can flourish, centrally located in the heart of the city.”

Chris Oglesby, CEO of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The acquisition of Sensor City marks a significant milestone in ours and Sciontec’s ongoing commitment to further enhancing innovation and growth within Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. Central Tech will serve as a dynamic hub for health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation, while continuing to drive high-value job creation and contributing to the economic growth in this vibrant region.”

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