Lewis Building launched to market after £20m redevelopment completes

A £20m office refurbishment project in Birmingham city centre is being launched to the market.

The Lewis Building on Bull Street has been brought back to life following a comprehensive refurbishment to provide new Grade A office space.

The development is named after the former department store which used to occupy the building. It is being formally launched to the market tomorrow (Thursday).

LGIM Real Assets (Legal General), the developer behind the project, in conjunction with Ediston Real Estate, have issued a Practical Completion Certificate to Willmott Dixon after the 57-week programme of works concluded. The project was designed by architects EPR.

The refurbishment has delivered around 113,000 sq ft of contemporary Grade A office space across seven floors – including a new 12,400 sq ft top floor extension offering feature full-height glazing.

Set behind a Portland Stone façade, the interior of the building was stripped back to its shell. The complete remodelling of the existing space including new mechanical and electrical systems, has created floorplates of up to 17,000 sq ft – some of the largest in the city’s business district.

The new development features a ground floor double-height reception area with a number of informal collaborative workspaces broken up by exposed columns and flexible furnishings, including a library, and lounge/exhibition space.

Tom Williams, senior asset manager, LGIM Real Assets, said: “This is the ultimate milestone in our plans to bring this magnificent building back to life. Once unloved and in need of renovation, the transformation has respected the historic legacy of the building, restoring it back to its former glory as a new flagship office building at the very heart of Birmingham’s business district.

“The building now offers some of the largest floorplates in the city, as well as a stunning 7th floor providing triple aspect panoramic views. With added sustainability amenities including ground floor cycle parking for up to 60 bikes, shower and changing facilities and 74 parking spaces together with a ground floor retail/café opportunity fronting Bull Street, we are confident we will meet the needs of potential occupiers.”

He said the investor was in talks with a number of prospective tenants and further announcements were expected over the next few weeks.

Nick Gibb, deputy managing director of Willmott Dixon Midlands, said: “It is extremely rewarding to be able to play our part in restoring such a significant flagship building.”

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