Willmott Dixon Interiors has completed the stunning £40m transformation of 10 Brindleyplace – Birmingham’s largest office refurbishment scheme.
The back to the frame transformation has combined two buildings to deliver more than 210,000 sq ft of grade A office space, with one of the city’s largest available office floorplates, at over 27,000 sq ft.
With a focus on three pillars of technology, sustainability and wellness, the redevelopment is Birmingham’s first office building to receive Fitwel accreditation – a standard that measures occupant health and wellbeing. It has also been awarded several other market-leading certifications, including:
- EPC A rating
- BREEAM Excellent
- WiredScore Platinum
- Fitwel 2 stars
We delivered the refurbishment of 10 Brindleyplace on behalf of CBRE Global Investors, with Willmott Dixon Construction providing specialist structural elements.
The former home of NatWest, the building has been transformed with a new, modern façade, generous double height reception space accessed from both Oozells Square and Broad Street, and large modern open plan office floors with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Occupier amenities include an on-site café, fitness facilities that boast a bouldering wall and fitness studio, extensive roof terraces, cycle storage for 100 bicycles, and electric vehicle charging.
The scheme is characterised by its strong sustainability and environmental credentials with a carbon reduction of more than 50% compared to the pre-refurbishment.
A new sprinkler system and an all-electric heating and cooling system have improved thermal efficiency and removed the need for fossil fuels. In addition, smart building technologies from Smart Spaces have been deployed to provide real-time energy monitoring and enhance user experience, making 10 Brindleyplace one of the most technologically advanced office buildings in the country.
Phil Crowther, director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are incredibly proud to have led the delivery of Birmingham’s biggest office refurbishment scheme, working alongside a first class project team and supply chain partners. The refurbishment has reinvented an existing building as a truly modern, high-tech office space with top class amenities, that prioritises the health and wellbeing of occupiers. It sets new standards in the city’s office market and delivers one of the most sustainable office environments that Birmingham will have to offer for many years to come.”
The project team included architect; Associated Architects, Quantity surveyor; MGAC and the project management of 10 Brindleyplace was headed up by Venture, the specialist project management team of Workman LLP, which runs complex builds, retrofits, and refurbishments on behalf of clients.
Nick White, Director at CBRE Investment Management said: “This scheme really does set new standards in the Birmingham office market; the facilities and certifications align with our focus on sustainability, wellness and technology, creating office space which is both fit for today and the future needs of our occupiers.”
Partnering with CBRE Investment Management, Spacemade will deliver 27,000 sq ft of flexible workspace at 10 Brindleyplace. Amenities will include private studios and co-working space for more than 500 people, meeting room and podcast facilities, coffee shop and roastery and a 2,000 sq ft auditorium and event space.
Dan Silverman, co-founder at Spacemade said: “The addition of flexible workspace to 10 Brindleyplace completes the brilliant amenity that CBRE IM has built into the scheme. By keeping control and transparency of the flexible workspace, CBRE IM is able to retain the relationship with their customers and fully integrate this crucial amenity into the rest of the building, therefore creating a truly seamless customer experience. With the increased focus on hybrid working, this environment will give members the variety and flexibility required to attract Birmingham’s best talent to the office.”
Paul Stanley, Workman LLP’s Venture team Technical Director said: “The complex refurbishment and retrofitting of large office buildings is clearly a growing theme across the UK real estate sector, as investors seek to improve the ESG performance of their holdings and avoid carbon-intensive knockdown-and-rebuild strategies, while aligning premises with occupiers’ modern and future needs. 10 Brindleyplace is a beacon of best practice for this effort – having transformed two smaller outdated office spaces into an industry-leading workspace that sets the tone for both Birmingham city centre headquarters spaces and the Midlands office market more widely. The success of this significant retrofit has been testament to the commitment and professionalism of all involved and I – like many others – am proud to see it reach fruition.”
Steve Townsend, Director, Associated Architects LLP, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of the successful completion of 10 Brindleyplace, a remarkable retrofit project that has transformed the commercial office space within these two buildings. Several prestigious certifications highlight the building’s commitment to sustainability, well-being, and new technology. The focus on these key aspects perfectly aligns with the needs of occupants, while also setting new standards in the Birmingham office market. These grade A office spaces not only meet the demands of today but also provide an environment that caters to the evolving needs of occupiers. It’s a testament to our dedication to delivering exceptional architectural design that enhances both productivity and the overall work experience.”
Find out more about the project here.