We’re delighted to mark the completion of 19 Cornwall Street, a major commercial retrofit in Birmingham’s Colmore Business District. Designed by Associated Architects for their client, Kier Property and built by Willmott Dixon Interiors, the seven-storey redevelopment has transformed a tired 1990s building into 139,000 sq ft of contemporary Grade A workspace.
Sustainability and wellbeing were at the heart of the brief. From day one, our approach focused on reducing operational and embodied carbon while enhancing user experience. The result? A building that achieves BREEAM Excellent, NABERS UK 5.0 Design Reviewed, EPC A, and is on course to attain WELL Gold and WiredScore Gold accreditations.
A fabric-first strategy and upgraded airtightness have helped reduce energy demand, while the all-electric MEP system and 4,000 sq ft of rooftop solar PV contribute to a predicted operational energy use of just 128kWh/m²/yr.
This is 66% better than the UK office average—and 20% ahead of the UKGBC 2025–2030 target.
Internally, we’ve created a dynamic central hub with a 32m-high reception atrium, breakout spaces, and a multifunctional studio. Occupier wellbeing is supported through biophilic design, flexible working areas, and generous cycle facilities, alongside a fifth-floor roof terrace with sweeping city views.
Crucially, our design retained and reused existing materials wherever possible: the concrete frame, brickwork, and even raised access floors (reclaimed from Canary Wharf) were preserved and integrated into the scheme. Local materials and makers were championed too—from bespoke joinery crafted from reclaimed floorboards to PET felt wall panels made from recycled plastic.
This is a future-ready workplace: smart-enabled, sustainable, and built to last. Its spacious, flexible floorplates are designed to meet a wide range of tenant needs over the coming decades, with minimal fit-out required.
19 Cornwall Street proves that retrofit isn’t just a sustainable choice—it’s a creative opportunity. It shows what’s possible when architectural ambition, environmental responsibility, and occupier wellbeing come together.
