Birmingham civil and structural engineering consultancy CWA Ltd has been appointed to deliver a conversion project for one of the city’s most historic and important buildings.
The city centre-based consultancy has secured the contract to carry out civil and structural engineering work on the refurbishment of Birmingham Assay Office in Newhall Street to offices.
Assay office staff and archives have moved out of the building – which was built in 1878 – to a new purpose-built base in the Jewellery Quarter.
It is now planned to convert the Grade II listed building into 30,000 sq ft of offices. Plans have been drawn up by architects Glenn Howells on behalf of property group TCN UK who acquired the building last year.
The Assay Office was significantly extended from 1890 through to the mid-1970s. Proposals for the building are sensitive to the heritage and industrial significance of the building, with many of its historical features incorporated into the plans.
CWA director Jim O’Donnell said the consultancy was pleased to be involved in such an exciting project on an historic building, famous for Birmingham’s anchor hallmark.
“This is a very interesting project because of the history and significance of the building. It is important to preserve its character while at the same time providing modern working spaces,” he said.
Fast growing CWA Ltd is based in Great Charles Street. The consultancy was established in 2011 as Copeland Wedge Associates and provides civil and structural design consultancy services to a wide range of sectors including leisure, residential, education, health, industrial, retail, infrastructure and public bodies.
Major clients include Willmott Dixon Construction and Housing, Balfour Beatty, Seven Capital, RO Developments, Prologis, IM Properties, Seddon and Morgan Sindell.
The company has delivered buildings for major end-user clients including West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Housing 21, Midland Heart, Rooftop Housing, Orbit Homes, Chevin Homes, Wrekin Housing, University of Warwick, Aston University, Coventry Sports Foundation and Marks and Spencer.