Bruntwood SciTech Unveils £3m Transformation of Mereside Atrium at Alderley Park

Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and Greater Manchester Pension Fund -  has announced a major £3 million refurbishment of the Mereside atrium at Alderley Park, breathing new life into the heart of the innovation campus. 

Focused on improving communal spaces for customers and the local community, the transformative project will see the atrium’s arrival experience, shared areas and hospitality facilities reimagined, reaffirming Mereside’s position as the heart of the Alderley Park campus and providing an even better experience for its 4,000-strong community. 

The scheme has been designed with collaboration and flexibility at its core, with new contemporary seating and breakout areas added throughout, giving customers an even greater choice during their working day and providing areas for quiet reflection and calm. Careful consideration has been given to the designs, with extensive biophilic elements incorporated throughout - bringing nature inside as a continuation of the Park’s unique location. This flexible space will also be complimented by improvements to the food and beverage provision, with upgraded options designed to serve both the Park’s customers and the local community, ensuring the atrium is a vibrant hub for all to enjoy. 

New workspace facilities are also being developed, with 8,000 sq ft of existing space being reconfigured to provide four premium workspace suites that will benefit from exclusive outdoor terraces overlooking Radnor Mere. The space features high-specification workspaces within a natural campus setting, with mature landscaping and wildlife habitats that support employee wellbeing.

Throughout all of this, sustainability has also been prioritised, with new, more efficient heating and ventilation systems being put in place to improve environmental performance while also creating a more comfortable setting for customers. 

This significant investment from Bruntwood SciTech reaffirms the importance of Alderley Park within the Cheshire business ecosystem, serving both as a gateway to internationally-recognised lab and workspace facilities and a central hub for the customers and the local community to socialise. 

Alderley Park provides more than 1 million sq ft of high specification lab and office space within a thriving community of over 250 innovative businesses. From premium gym facilities, padel courts and sports pitches to The Churchill Tree pub and expansive green spaces offering scenic walking and cycling routes, Alderley Park's amenities are designed to foster wellbeing while helping businesses attract the talent they need to scale. 

The redevelopment of the Mereside atrium follows on from the recent opening of Apiary, a new events and conference centre located opposite Mereside, which provides 6,000 sq ft of event and meeting space operated by Fork & Field Catering. Local fine food and wine store Grantham’s has also announced it will be moving to the site, providing a premium deli, coffee shop and fine dining area due to open in Spring.

Mark Julian, Associate Director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: "Mereside is the beating heart of Alderley Park, and this investment is about making sure it works harder for the 4,000 people who use the campus every day. Through these changes, we’re adding even more of the elements that make the Park such a brilliant place for businesses to be based at - more flexibility, better spaces to collaborate and places that genuinely support how modern businesses work.

"The reimagined atrium will give people real choice in how they spend their day - whether that's hosting clients overlooking Radnor Mere, finding a quiet spot for focused work or bringing teams together for events. And crucially, we're doing this while significantly improving the building's environmental performance.

"This is a long-term commitment to Alderley Park's future. As we continue to attract ambitious companies pushing the boundaries, our spaces need to match that ambition. We're building infrastructure that will serve this community for decades to come."

As part of the wider Bruntwood SciTech community, customers at Alderley Park also benefit from access to its UK-wide ecosystem of 1,100+ innovation-focused companies, alongside strategic partnerships with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester, providing pathways to clinical collaboration and access to the region's highly-skilled research base and workforce.

To register your interest in the new scheme, click here.