Major Grade A office scheme reaches completion

A brand new Grade A office scheme is ready to open its doors in Nottingham.

The 22,700 sq ft Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building – named after Britain’s first female doctor, magistrate and mayor – will provide space for growing businesses seeking research and development facilities near like-minded organisations.

The office building on Nottingham Science Park, which was designed by CPMG Architects and delivered by contractor Willmott Dixon, includes a café, an 80-space car park and conference facilities.

Willmott Dixon worked on the project with Perfect Circle – a property, construction and infrastructure consultancy comprising of Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – via The Scape National Built Environment Consultancy Services framework.

The scheme was part-funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Stuart Kerr, operations director for Willmott Dixon in the East Midlands, said: “We are really proud to have helped deliver this important scheme for Nottingham and Nottingham City Council, which will really shape the city centre and create a hub for research and development. As with all our projects we aim to give back to the local community, making a difference to real people.

“During the project, we teamed up with social enterprise Think Big Academy to deliver a careers event on the live construction site, this attracted 100 young people and resulted in over 20 work experience enquiries. We also created jobs for an additional six local people on the scheme, alongside having seven apprentices on the site while also providing work experience opportunities for students of Nottingham College.”

The first pre-lets were agreed at the building in December 2019.

Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham has long been a city of scientific innovation with the MRI, ibuprofen and the legacy of Jesse Boot and expanding our reputable Science Park supports our ambitions to continue to be a city of innovation and creativity.

“Providing more Grade A office space in the city is a long held ambition of the city to meet the demands of potential tenants and so far it looks as though there’s been good interest in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building, given its proximity to the Boots Enterprise Zone, University of Nottingham, the tram, the M1 and the city centre.

“As a Science City, we know scientific research and new innovations like fintech can create jobs, stimulate growth and keep talented graduates in the city and are committed to this with our £2 billion Southside regeneration programme.”

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was a member of the suffragette movement. She completed a medical degree in Paris in 1870 and later founded a medical school for women.