The significant refurbishment of one of Birmingham’s most well-known buildings has taken a step forward, with the appointment of Willmott Dixon as contractor.
Legal & General Property (LGP) which owns the Lewis Building on Bull Street has appointed the construction and regeneration specialist to carry out the comprehensive refurbishment, which has a contract value of £18 million.
When completed, the Lewis Building will offer 114,000 sq ft of contemporary Grade A office space set behind a classic Portland Stone façade.
Willmott Dixon will strip back the interior of the building to shell and core, remodelling the building to provide floorplates of 17,000 sq ft – some of the largest in the city’s business district – along with a new 12,000 sq ft, fully glazed seventh storey with roof terraces. All floors will receive high quality finishes throughout and the building will benefit from new mechanical and electrical systems.
The ground floor will also benefit significantly, with the installation of full height glazing that will flood the new double-height Manhattan-style lobby with light. The space will also feature a number of informal and collaborative meeting spaces, including a library, coffee area, lounge and bespoke exhibition space, demarcated through subtle but defined changes in finishes, colours and furniture choices.
Tom Williams, Senior Asset Manager, Legal & General Property, said: “With an outstanding track record of renovating historic and listed buildings such as Alexandra Palace, we are exceedingly confident that Wilmott Dixon will deliver our vision for a 21st Century workplace in the heart of Birmingham. We are taking an underinvested asset and creating a truly landmark location that seamlessly blends a contemporary workplace with the building’s historic legacy.
“The Lewis Building represents a fantastic opportunity for Birmingham’s commercial market and we have already seen considerable interest from some of the larger requirements currently looking to identify space.”
Formerly known as Temple Court, the Lewis Building was originally built as a department store in the 1920s by renowned 19th Century philanthropist, David Lewis and has been an integral part of Birmingham’s city core for almost 100 years.
Willmott Dixon’s managing director in the Midlands, Peter Owen, said: “We are hugely proud of our role in creating Birmingham’s exciting new future with these projects, and are excited to be creating superb Grade A offices in the heart of the city’s business district.
“LGP are taking an innovative approach to the Lewis Building, offering a product that is providing space that responds to the needs of modern occupiers while respecting and enhancing the historic aspects of the building’s exterior. This is an ambitious project but will create a significant addition to Birmingham’s office market and will represent a fitting legacy to this historically important building.”
“We are really pleased to be working on the Lewis Building project, creating inspiring places for people to work in Central Birmingham. Being Birmingham based, it is a pleasure to see our city flourish and be a part of delivering that for our community.”
LGP are targeting high levels of sustainability in the construction and use of the building and have incorporated 74 car park spaces as well as secure, ground floor level cycle parking for 60 bikes and shower, changing and drying facilities.
The refurbishment of the Lewis Building is being project managed by Ediston Real Estate. EPR are the architects for the project. CBRE and Bilfinger GVA are the appointed leasing agents.
The building is due to be completed by July 2017.