Design and build of a new mRNA facility in Darlington.
The vaccine library forms the basis of a rapid response facility, which will enable mRNA vaccines to be developed to help protect against new variants of COVID-19, as and when they emerge.
- Merit’s UltraPOD® solution offering Grade C manufacturing and designed to BSL2.
- 8.5 months delivery from design inception to Practical Completion, including IOQ validation and planning – years faster than traditional construction.
- 95% offsite manufactured.
- Rapid, successful commissioning and validation
When CPI was awarded £5m investment to develop an mRNA ‘vaccine library’ by the Government, CPI required a fast-track solution to bring building and manufacturing capabilities online quicker.
Merit was awarded the contract following competitive tender, offering a solution of just over 8 months, 6 months quicker than the next tendered offer.
The vaccine library forms the basis of a rapid response facility, which will enable mRNA vaccines to be developed to help protect against new variants of COVID-19, as and when they emerge.
The new mRNA facility has the same quality feel as a traditional build, configured in a shape that facilities offsite manufacturing. This approach enabled the facility to be delivered in just 8.5 months. The quality requirements will deliver a 50 year lifespan for CPI.
Merit’s platform design approach combines high quality, high reliability and proven design solutions to meet regulatory requirements. It also enables fast-track delivery through standardised solutions and offsite manufacturing. This standardised solution is also key to the programme. Merit continues to develop a product-based approach in respect of project delivery, which improves productivity in contrast to the construction industry’s endless prototyping and ‘reinvention of the wheel’.
Merit specifically developed this platform build solution for high technology and GMP applications where proven designs can be delivered in a fast-track manner through offsite manufacturing and 5D BIM.
A significant part of the new GMP building was manufactured offsite in Cramlington, Northumberland. Offsite manufacturing has been shown to reduce embedded carbon by up to 30%. It also minimises waste on site and in the factory. As a result 99.5% of the waste for the CPI project was recycled or reused.
The facility was designed in collaboration with the client team to deliver the functionality required for the building whilst considering future phases and works as part of the site master planning exercise.