Infection Centre celebrates Key Development Milestone

A new multi-million-pound infection generation centre operated jointly by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and iiCON: Infection Innovation Consortium, has celebrated a ‘topping out’ ceremony marking a key phase in completion of refurbishment of the building located in the heart of Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter.

Delivered by main contractor Kier, development of the Pembroke House centre involves the external façade being retained while internal works are being developed into an attractive, contemporary space with immersive and experiential technologies at its core. The ceremonial laying of the building’s final brick was carried out by iiCON’s founding Director Janet Hemingway, and LSTM’s Director, David Lalloo. 

At the ceremony Professor David Lalloo said: “Pembroke House responds to a growing need for a step-change in training to equip health professionals to deal with the global health challenges of the future. The new centre will support impactful global partnerships with multiple stakeholders in teaching and research and enhance LSTM’s educational collaboration with overseas partners and students by linking learning on-campus in Liverpool into a world-class, globally connected digital learning environment. It’s exciting to be ‘topping out’ the building and laying the final brick and we look forward to officially launching the building as we celebrate LSTM’s 125th anniversary next year.” 

Professor Janet Hemingway said: “It’s great to see such good progress being made on the refurbishment of Pembroke House and we’re delighted to be marking this key development milestone.   “Once open, the centre will support and super-charge infection innovation by bringing together industry, academia, and our regional community in world-class facilities and providing industry partners with a dedicated space to enable high-quality training, networking, and partnering – supporting pioneering collaborative innovation.” 

Sean Fenner, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “We’re pleased and proud to be marking this milestone in the refurbishment of Pembroke House. This development will breathe new life into this beautiful historic building in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, carefully retaining the external façade while creating a state-of-the-art centre where innovation and learning thrives. We’re delighted to be working closely with the team at LSTM and iiCON on this important project for the Liverpool City Region.” 

Funding was provided by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), with generous donations from leading philanthropic organisations including The Garfield Weston Foundation and Lord Leverhulme’s Charitable Trust.

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