CSL has announced plans to relocate its global corporate headquarters and laboratories to the heart of Melbourne's Parkville biomedical precinct.
The announcement is a major milestone for the precinct that already hosts some of Australia's leading medical research institutes and hospitals.
CSL's new 16-storey premises will be located at 645 Elizabeth Street on the northern edge of Melbourne’s CBD.
The company said the facility will support collaborations between academic biomedical research and industry.
According to CEO and managing director, Paul Perreault, “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.”
The company said on completion the development will accommodate more than 800 employees, including early-stage research and product development teams, commercial operations, corporate functions and support services.
The building will include seven floors of office workspaces and nine floors of laboratories and research and clinical phase production suites.
The company said it 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.
CSL said its new 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.
Project completion is scheduled for 2024.