Overhaul of landmark Colmore Row office building to get underway

Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has pressed the button on a major refurbishment scheme for a 67,000 sq ft Birmingham city centre office building.

RLAM has instructed Willmott Dixon Interiors to 5 St. Philips Place.

The new design will reconfigure the two existing entrances into a single prominent reception fronting Cathedral Square and will include features such as a new double height reception area with client amenity and welcome space.

The office accommodation will be finished to the highest CAT A standard with a new VRF system to provide comfort cooling and heating, as well as fresh air ventilation supplied via the floor voids at rates of 12 litres per second, per person.

The building will also offer new external terracing to the seventh offering views over the Square and Cathedral and onto Colmore Row.

The amenities will include a new designated cycle hub with bike storage and end of journey facilities such as showers, lockers and drying rooms to support more sustainable and active modes of transport.

The building will be available to let from Q1 2024.

Will Hawking, senior asset manager at RLAM, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to re-imagine this high-profile office building. It is arguably the best location in Birmingham and really showcase the buildings strong environmental and social value credentials. From inception, the design team’s brief has been to minimise the carbon impact in producing a best-in-class building targeting operationally net zero carbon. Working with Wilmott Dixon Interiors, we are collaborating with the team to ensure social benefits such as sustainable procurement is followed through local supply chains, with free access to local construction skills and reach out programmes set up with local schools.”

Phil Crowther, regional director of Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “5 St. Philips Place is a fabulous building on a historic site in the heart of Birmingham city centre. This project will bring the building up to modern standards, making access more inclusive and delivering Grade A office accommodation that will be attractive to prospective occupiers. We’re proud to be delivering a scheme with such strong sustainability credentials which is in keeping with the building’s location in the Colmore Row Conservation Area.”

Knight Frank and Savills are the leasing agents for the scheme which was designed by 5Plus Architects.