Stirling Prize award-winning architecture practice Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) has won the competition to design the next building at Paradise Birmingham.
FCBStudios’ vision is for a highly sustainable design that will bring a completely new standard of workplace to Birmingham, one that is relevant for the time as well as the location and will interact with its surroundings in an open way.
Three Chamberlain Square will continue as part of the latest phase of the development, which is transforming the very heart of the city centre and will provide circa 160,000 sq ft of commercial office space next to the Town Hall, Chamberlain Square, and Paradise Street.
A crucial site in the overall Paradise masterplan, Three Paradise Square is the fifth building to be constructed as part of the Paradise estate, with the team now working towards submitting a planning application during 2021. Along with a new hotel on the corner of Paradise Street and Ratcliff Square, Three Chamberlain Square will complete Phase Two of Birmingham’s most important regeneration scheme.
The £700 million Paradise redevelopment is being brought forward through a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council. The private sector funding is being managed by the international business of Federated Hermes while Argent is the development manager.
The news about Three Chamberlain Square follows the submission of a planning application for the world’s first pure octagonal residential tower. Plans for Octagon, which will tower above the city at 49 storeys or 155 metres in height, were submitted to Birmingham City Council in October.
These announcements also come hot on the heels of the installation of 1,156 tonnes of huge steel trusses on the site of One Centenary Way where a new thirteen storey, 280,000 sq ft commercial building is currently under construction.
Despite the challenges of 2020, it has been a huge year for the development, with several occupier, development and planning announcements made and with more to come.
Rob Groves, Regional Director with Argent, said: “Huge congratulations to FCBStudios for the hard work they put into creating a winning design for our next building. Three Chamberlain Square is going to be an exciting and unique addition to the Paradise estate and we can’t wait to bring forward more details on the proposals as we move into 2021.
“One of the themes in FCBStudios pitch was for an ‘outside-inside’ design that would be highly sustainable and this made the design stand out in what was a very high quality field.
“They have also designed a building that has a compelling architectural story behind it and makes a powerful statement in its own right as well as fitting in perfectly to a larger scheme and masterplan.
“The fact that FCBStudios also designed the new Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at Eastside, which formerly sat on the site of Three Chamberlain Square, also means the completion of a historic design circle in relation to this particular part of the Paradise site.
“The utilisation of space in this winning design is very strong and we’re sure that Three Chamberlain Square will not just have a major impact on the cityscape of Birmingham but will have an impact on everyone who walks past it, works in it and lives close to it.”
Keith Bradley, Senior Partner at FCBStudios, said: “Our approach to Three Chamberlain Square is centred around sustainability, wellbeing and place. In one of the first post-Covid office buildings to be commissioned in the UK, we intend to raise the bar and bring a game-changing office building to the West Midlands.
“Our ambition is to make a working environment which is desirable and attractive, while pushing the sustainability aspirations to deliver a net zero carbon building. Our design offers adaptable and resilient spaces and breathes new life into the workplace. With daylight, dramatic views, natural ventilation and greenery throughout, the offices engage with the outside to make an inspiring workplace.
“Three Chamberlain Square has a prominent city centre location adjacent to the Town Hall. It will pay homage to the past while setting new standards of modern design, to create a place that will be transformative in its ability to bring opportunities and jobs to Birmingham.”
Chris Taylor, CEO of Real Estate at the international business of Federated Hermes, said: “The quality of the design for Three Chamberlain Square marks a step change in the sustainability agenda for commercial buildings in Birmingham. This will make the building a landmark for many reasons, not least because of its low carbon status and highly flexible and inclusive design.
“These qualities perfectly mirror our ethos for Paradise and its ability deliver a new place, new jobs, new skills and new opportunities for the city and its people.”
At almost 2 million square feet, Paradise is delivering up to 10 new flagship buildings, offering offices, shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and a hotel across 17 acres in the heart of the city, together with the proposed Octagon residential building.
Paradise sits in the country’s largest city centre Enterprise Zone and has already benefited from investment by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) in enabling and infrastructure works.