Shortlisted rivals Quintain and Goodman missed out on the final cut for the 30-year project, which is expected to create 6,000 jobs.
The tender exercise is being overseen by the existing public sector partners at the campus – the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton borough council.
Work on the project is scheduled to begin next May.
The campus already houses more than 90 hi-tech businesses along with research units and university operations.
paul.norman@estatesgazette.com