Irish life sciences design firm, BioPharma Engineering, has been acquired by Unispace, a global workplace strategy, design and construction firm.
BioPharma Engineering will become known as BPE, and the Unispace Global Life Sciences Centre of Excellence will be established in Ireland to deliver and grow the global life sciences business within the worldwide Unispace network.
BioPharma Engineering, established in 2006, designs and delivers laboratory, research and manufacturing facility space for global pharma and life sciences companies. During 2021, the company completed over €150m in capital expenditure projects, many of which were for Covid-19 medication manufacturing sites.
Unispace, which has 48 offices in 26 countries worldwide, said it will support the firm’s continued expansion across key markets in the North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Cork TD and foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney commented: "Cork is already home to 9 of the 10 of the world’s top Life Sciences companies, and the new Unispace Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences further solidifies the region as a globally renowned talent and competency hotspot for the pharma and medtech industries.
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"This partnership between an Irish design engineering firm and a global workspace giant exemplifies the talent and expertise as well as ambition that epitomises Irish businesses."
John O’Reilly, founder and managing director of BioPharma Engineering, stated: “We now have the resources, infrastructure and investment to expand globally and rapidly, while continuing to lead with the talent and expertise that we have built in Ireland, through our Cork and Dublin offices.”
Unispace CEO Steve Quick said life sciences companies are challenged with expanding their footprint rapidly to meet skyrocketing demand.
“Partnering with BPE is a natural move for us and will allow us to build on the work we have delivered to date for life sciences clients,” Quick added.
“It will allow us to meet this moment for our many global clients in this industry, bolstering our unique model created to design and deliver spaces that support people, innovation and business growth under today’s necessary yet radically compressed timeframes. With BioPharma by our side, we can’t ask for a better partner to propel this growth.”
RDJ Solicitors and BKK advised BioPharma Engineering. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Photo: John O'Reilly (right) and Simon Coveney (centre) with Unispace COO Claire Shepherd. (Pic: Darragh Kane)
