MELBOURNE, Australia - Global biotechnology leader CSL Limited today announced it has entered into an agreement with developer PDG to build world-class laboratories and offices to house the company’s global corporate headquarters in the heart of the Parkville biomedical precinct.
Located at 645 Elizabeth Street on the northern edge of Melbourne’s CBD, the 16-storey flagship building represents an important investment in the Australian biotech ecosystem.
The new facility will foster and support collaborations between academic biomedical research and industry, creating important linkages in the ‘benchtop to bedside’ translation of new medicines for unmet medical needs.
CSL’s CEO and Managing Director, Paul Perreault said, "Melbourne’s reputation as a world class centre of biomedical research excellence is well established. The medical research cluster centred around Parkville, comprising the University of Melbourne, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, the Doherty Institute for Infectious Disease, The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Children’s Hospital, among other institutions is considered a world-class medical precinct and a significant research presence in global terms."
"CSL’s collaborations within the precinct span more than a hundred years. We have opportunities all around the world and R&D in several countries, but we believe the density and quality of medical research activity in Parkville has enormous future potential. As we continue to strengthen our long term collaborations with strategic partners we intend to grow these networks by further embedding key elements of our Australian operations into the nucleus of Melbourne’s medical research district," said Mr Perreault.
On completion, the development will accommodate more than 800 CSL employees including early stage research and product development teams, commercial operations, corporate functions and support services. The building will include seven floors of office work spaces and nine floors of laboratories and research and clinical phase production suites. The company will maintain its presence at the Bio21 Institute which currently accommodates 130 CSL researchers, while Seqirus’ influenza and antivenom manufacturing operations will remain at the Poplar Road campus for the foreseeable future.
"Our Poplar Road site is an important part of CSL’s history and has served the company well. As we plan for future growth however, moving geographically closer to our key stakeholders ensures we are well placed to strengthen our partnerships and deepen the valuable relationships we have with the local biomedical community. The move will also bring key elements of our Australian operations together, fostering stronger internal collaboration," said Mr Perreault.
Known as ‘Elizabeth North’, the site includes three tower buildings. CSL’s new Global Head Office is planned for completion as part of phase two of the three-stage project.
The landmark site will be developed by PDG and will employ nearly 1350 people in the construction of phases one and two. Commenting on the agreement, Vince Giuliano, Managing Director of PDG said, “This dynamic precinct will be a foundation for organisations that stand as global exemplars of their industries – driving the growth of knowledge, development of technology and success of Australia’s brightest minds.”
The buildings will be joined by external ‘laneways’ with activated street frontages, creating dynamic public spaces that reflect Melbourne’s architectural heritage, while providing increased opportunities for networking between professionals, researchers, students and visitors. The ‘laneways’ will also act as a thoroughfare link between the health and educational precinct and the Melbourne CBD.
The development will have high public transport connectivity and will be a short walk to the planned new Parkville metro train station.
CSL’s laboratories will be enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass and circumnavigated by a continuous corridor, enabling safe, transparent viewing of biotech production activities for a range of precinct visitors, including educational opportunities for students and young researchers.
Planning has commenced with project completion scheduled for 2024.
The Victorian State Government and the University of Melbourne have also announced today an intention to commission a feasibility study to maximise the jobs and economic development potential of Parkville similar to powerhouse biotech and innovation precinct developments elsewhere in the world.
Notes to Editors:
1. Artist’s impressions of the site available on request.
2. Commenting on the development, members of the precinct provided the following statements:
The University of Melbourne: University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell said, "The relationship between CSL and University of Melbourne goes back over 50 years and is an outstanding example of industry and university collaboration. CSL already has a strong presence in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct through its partnership with the University’s Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology. CSL’s announcement is a testament to our strong partnership and we look forward to collaborating on important research projects to generate real impacts in medicine."
The Royal Melbourne Hospital: Melbourne Health’s Chief Executive, Professor Christine Kilpatrick, welcomed CSL’s move to the heart of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. "Like the Royal Melbourne Hospital, CSL has a long and proud history of serving the community. We are excited to have CSL’s new laboratories and offices on our doorstep and we look forward the new collaboration opportunities on our doorstep."
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Director Professor Doug Hilton said the new facility would bolster his Institute's collaborations with CSL. "For more than a century there have been close ties between CSL and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, which have accelerated the development of new therapeutics. I am sure the new CSL facility will foster valuable new opportunities for continuing to work collaboratively and translate our research."
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre: Peter MacCallum’s Executive Director of Cancer Research, Professor Ricky Johnstone said, "We are delighted to see this significant commitment by CSL to Melbourne. This will further strengthen our world-class biomedical precinct, and helps create a critical mass to drive scientific innovation and discovery."
About CSL
CSL (ASX:CSL) is a leading global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of life-saving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL — including our two businesses, CSL Behring and Seqirus - provides life-saving products to more than 60 countries and employs 22,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest. For more information about CSL Limited, visit www.csl.com
About PDG
PDG is a Melbourne-based property development company with a diverse folio of residential, commercial and mixed-use projects. Family owned and operated, PDG has been dedicated to creating the best places to live, work and interact for over 35 years. PDG selects unique sites in prime locations, drawing on local character and the needs of contemporary residential and commercial needs to design environments that are exemplars of quality, liveability and value. Today, PDG is part of an integrated group of property and real estate companies that provide end-to-end property services of the highest quality – consistently redefining both client expectations and industry standards. For more information, visit www.pdg.com.au
CSL Media Contact
Christina Hickie
CSL Limited
Phone: +61 9389 3425/ 0429 609 762
Christina.Hickie@csl.com.au