ISG secures £44m transformation of city centre IKEA

ISG has been appointed to repurpose the former Coventry IKEA building into a cultural hub, after a £44m bid.

Set to be known as the City Centre Cultural Gateway (CCCG), the building will be repurposed to provide a new home for nationally recognised collections, managed by Arts Council England, Arts Council Collection and the British Council and include a space for new research facilities.

The 280,000 sq ft building, which has seven floors as well as on-site parking, will be transformed in three phases.

Plans submitted by Buttress on behalf of Coventry City Council were approved in May 2023, following a public consultation.

Phase one will see part of the building being repurposed to become a Collections Centre of national significance where CV Life, Arts Council England, Arts Council Collection and the British Council will house their collections.

Phase two will see Coventry University transform floors five and six into a cultural hub, with a range of facilities on offer, including teaching areas, research space and attractions.

Phase three will allow the council to enclose and future-proof the internal car park floors. This will allow feasibility work to be undertaken to explore alternative uses for the new internal space created.