Willmott Dixon Interiors has been instructed by Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) to deliver the refurb of its Birmingham office at 5 St. Philips Place.

The office, which is a 67,000 sq ft heritage building in the city’s business district, will benefit from a refurbishment with strong ESG credentials and wellness standards, as well as targeting net zero carbon quotas for the firm.  

The building, which will be available from the first financial quarter of 2024, was leased by agents from Knight Frank and Savills.

The new design will also reconfigure the two existing entrances into a single prominent reception fronting Cathedral Square, and will include features such as a new double height reception area with client amenity and welcome space.

The office accommodation will be finished to the highest CAT A standard with a new VRF system to provide comfort cooling and heating, as well as fresh air ventilation supplied via the floor voids at rates of 12 litres per second, per person. 

In addition to a new terrace on the seventh floor, other amenities will include a new designated cycle hub with bike storage and facilities such as showers, lockers and drying rooms.

The refurbishment will aim to meet several ambitious wellbeing and sustainability targets, including BREEAM ‘Excellent’, Fitwel certification, WELL gold, WiredScore Platinum, SmartScore and a Nabers UK rating.

Will Hawking, senior asset manager at RLAM, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to re-imagine this high-profile office building. It is arguably the best location in Birmingham and really showcases the building’s strong environmental and social value credentials. From inception, the design team’s brief has been to minimise the carbon impact in producing a best-in-class building targeting operationally net zero carbon. 

“Working with Willmott Dixon Interiors, we are collaborating with the team to ensure social benefits such as sustainable procurement is followed through local supply chains, with free access to local construction skills and reach out programmes set up with local schools.”

Phil Crowther, regional director of Willmott Dixon, added: “5 St. Philips Place is a fabulous building on a historic site in the heart of Birmingham city centre. This project will bring the building up to modern standards, making access more inclusive and delivering Grade A office accommodation that will be attractive to prospective occupiers. 

“We’re proud to be delivering a scheme with such strong sustainability credentials which is in keeping with the building’s location in the Colmore Row Conservation Area.”