CBRE Global Investors has selected Willmott Dixon Interiors to deliver the £38.8 million full refurbishment of a landmark Birmingham office block.

The fit-out and refurbishment specialist will undertake the complete transformation of 10 Brindleyplace to modern CAT-A standards, with the redevelopment combining 10 and 8 Brindleyplace into one building to create 212,000 square foot of open office space over nine floors, providing one of Birmingham’s largest available floorplates at over 27,000 square foot.

Works will include an internal reconfiguration, with the construction of a brand new double height reception space addressing Oozells Square and Cumberland Street and the creation of a new entrance to Broad Street.

An extension to the office floor plates on floors one to six will create almost 15,000 square foot of additional space and facilitate a range of occupier amenities including a gymnasium and cycle storage hub, electric vehicle charging points and a ground floor cafe.

By linking 10 and 8 Brindleyplace, it will offer a superior double height, open office floor plan of 8,500 square foot on the upper floors. During the work, Willmott Dixon Interiors will be able to draw on the expertise of Willmott Dixon's construction business for some of the more intricate structural elements.

A full curtain walling system will provide views across the Birmingham skyline and there will be an open terrace roof space for relaxation (see illustration below).

The project will see upgrades to passenger lifts and WCs, with new lighting, signage and branding, whilst the upper basement will house new changing rooms, shower facilities and drying and locker rooms. A full M&E replacement will enhance the building’s existing sustainability features, with full electrification, lighting upgrades, improved thermal efficiency and the installation of solar control.

Externally the buildings will be infilled, while the facade has been completely redesigned to improve its identity, with a contemporary pale grey brick. New floor-to-ceiling windows and double height window openings will allow more natural light to infiltrate both buildings.

CBRE Global Investors has appointed a wider project team that includes Associated Architects, Thamesis as development manager, RLF as quantity surveyor, project management by Venture, the specialist project management team within Workman, structural engineer Cundall, M&E engineer Couch Perry Wilkes, and facade consultant Wintech. The project will be completed in mid-2022.

In addition to the main works, Willmott Dixon Interiors has committed to a substantial social return on investment through local spend and the delivery of community engagement activities.

Phil Crowther, director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said:

“We’re incredibly pleased to have been appointed to deliver the full redevelopment of such an important Birmingham office block. This project will provide the opportunity to reinvent the two buildings and enhance both the marketability and investment value of 10 Brindleyplace.

“We’ll be delivering a high quality specification and the very best finishes throughout to create a stunning new facility in an exciting and well connected destination, that will rival the best office buildings in Birmingham.

“A refurbishment of this scale requires construction and project management expertise of significant capability, as we will be stripping both buildings back to a concrete shell. We’re very much looking forward to leveraging the considerable skills of teams within our interiors and construction business to bring the project to fruition. Being selected as the chosen contractor reflects both the financial strength of our business and our proven ability to deliver on time and within budget.”

Willmott Dixon Interiors delivers nationwide projects across the commercial, hotel, leisure, retail, education and health sectors. The contractor is currently delivering phase two of a £19.1 million project to refurbish Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls.