One Centenary at Paradise Birmingham officially launched
One Centenary Way, the major new landmark and highly sustainable commercial building in the heart of Birmingham, has been officially launched.
Designed by Birmingham-based Howells, with engineering input from Arup, One Centenary Way is a 68 metre tall, 13 storey, 280,000 sq ft commercial building with bar and restaurant uses on the ground floor.
The steel exoskeleton of the building enables it to straddle the A38 Queensway tunnel, with the highway running directly beneath the site remaining open throughout the construction period.
Completed earlier this year by contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, the building book-ends Paradise and overlooks Centenary Square and Broad Street.
The basement of the building features Birmingham’s first dedicated cycle hub with space for up to 400 bikes, showers, storage and maintenance facilities, all of which will be available to the public as well as Paradise occupiers from next year.
Environmental consultancy Arup will soon begin the relocation of its 1,000 strong Midlands team to the building and will be joined early next year by global banking group Goldman Sachs and real estate advisors JLL.
Further floors of the building are currently under offer, leaving just one and half floors available.
Featuring floorplates of up to 22,500 sq ft and with a stunning terrace overlooking Centenary Square on the twelfth floor, the building is a significant new landmark for the city and makes a positive statement on the city’s skyline.
Rob Groves, regional development director at MEPC, the development and asset management arm of Federated Hermes, said: “The official launch of One Centenary Way is a huge milestone for Paradise and the city. It is another successful element of the Paradise estate, and a crucial building for Birmingham in terms of attracting new and existing office occupiers looking to expand or find a new home where they can grow sustainably.
“It has enabled organisations like Arup and Goldman Sachs to move thousands of jobs to the city centre, contributing to a thriving regional economy and a growing profile for the city’s real estate market.”
Chris Taylor, CEO of real estate and head of private markets, Federated Hermes, said: “One Centenary Way is evidence of our long-term thinking and commitment to a net zero future at Paradise. One of the largest commercial buildings in Birmingham, One Centenary Way is an exemplary design, a triumph of engineering prowess and a new landmark for the people of the city.
“By investing in a building that sets new standards of sustainability, efficiency and desirability for the city, we are supporting Birmingham’s credentials as a leading regional and global business destination. Paradise continues to build a reputation as the finest regional business destination in the UK that has attracted new jobs, skills and opportunities to the city and will continue to do so as its later phases come through.”
The development’s latest building currently underway is Three Chamberlain Square, a mixed-use space facing Paradise Street and Ratcliff Passage, adjacent to the Grade I listed Town Hall.
Planning approval was also awarded last year for a new 17 storey, 152-bedroom hotel on the corner of Paradise Street, as well as a new public square and a number of new pedestrianised streets.
