£2.5m refurb of landmark office building underway
The refurbishment of Birmingham’s Southside Building is underway following the appointment of contractors and letting agents to the scheme.
Formerly known as Albany House the 11-storey, 51,000 sq ft office building will receive a £2.5m package of improvement.
The office area on the first floor will be reconfigured to provide a combination of flexible co-working space, smaller cellular offices and open-plan suites, along with a bookable meeting room and break out area.
The exterior of the building will be partially reclad with the retail units fronting Hurst Street receiving new frontages. A coffee shop unit will link internally to the enhanced and reconfigured reception, and tenants will benefit from new bike storage and shower facilities.
Jeremy Thiagarajah, Paloma Capital, said: “Southside is dynamic and vibrant and this extensive programme of works will ensure that The Southside Building is seen as an attractive opportunity for Birmingham’s burgeoning range of SMEs, tech companies and start-ups looking for well positioned, high quality and affordable city centre offices.
“Through this first-class programme of refurbishment our vision is that The Southside Building will attract new people and businesses to the area. This really is a hidden gem for the city, with a truly outstanding range of bars, restaurants and cultural venues.”
The works, which are due to be completed in the first quarter of 2020, will be undertaken by fit-out and refurbishment specialist Willmott Dixon Interiors.
Savills and LSH have been appointed as office lettings agents.
Phil Crowther, director of Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are very pleased to have been appointed by Paloma Capital to deliver the refurbishment of such a well-established office building in an excellent business location. Birmingham city centre is undergoing considerable redevelopment and this project will undoubtedly ensure that The Southside Building remains an extremely attractive office space for companies looking to arrive in and expand in the city.”
Located next to Birmingham Hippodrome on Hurst Street, The Southside Building overlooks the planned Hippodrome Square, a multi-purpose public space that will play host to a programme of outdoor events and entertainment.
Paloma Capital is a private equity real estate investor established in 2015 and wholly owned by its founding partners, Joe Froud and Jack Pitman. The company acquired Albany House in November 2017.
