Project Topaz – Biopharmaceutical Facility

Cytiva, a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, needed to move quickly as demand surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ambition was to transform an empty warehouse into a world-class manufacturing facility that could support vaccine and cancer therapy production, strengthen the UK supply chain and help meet an urgent national need.

Building at speed

The pandemic created unprecedented pressure across healthcare and manufacturing. Additional production capacity was needed quickly, with no time to lose.

We provided interdisciplinary support across project management, architecture, building services engineering, civil and structural engineering, cost management and health and safety, helping guide the project from early design through delivery.

Working alongside Cytiva and specialist cleanroom partner Connect 2 Cleanrooms, our teams coordinated the transformation of an existing warehouse into an advanced manufacturing facility supporting the production of critical single-use consumables used in vaccine and cancer therapy manufacturing.

The brief evolved quickly as the project developed. Site logistics changed, infrastructure requirements shifted and specialist manufacturing systems needed to be integrated at pace.

BIM played an important role throughout, helping teams work together in real time and respond quickly as priorities changed.

Delivering precision in a fast-moving environment

The facility includes eight ISO 6 cleanrooms alongside production, welfare and office spaces designed to support day-to-day operations. Behind the scenes, electrical upgrades and low-energy systems help create a high-performing manufacturing environment.

Close collaboration helped keep the project moving. Our cost management team worked alongside Cytiva and the contractor to maintain transparency and support decision-making as the programme evolved.

A stronger future for life sciences

Project Topaz now provides high-specification manufacturing space designed to support long-term growth in the life sciences sector.

Beyond the building itself, the project strengthened the UK supply chain during a critical period and supported wider vaccine manufacturing efforts.

It has also created more than 250 skilled jobs, helping reinforce South Wales as an important centre for advanced manufacturing and innovation.