Enterprise Wharf

As an important early building within Bruntwood’s AA-designed Innovation Birmingham campus, Enterprise Wharf sets the tone for future development, providing a visual statement that is attractive to high profile businesses in the ‘grow on’ stage of their development. It aims to be comparable to best in sector European Science and Technology Parks and therefore there is a desire for a simple and timeless appearance, with a focus on quality materials.

Providing contemporary, flexible office space with high quality shared facilities for technology and research-focused tenants that will support the rapid growth of the sector in the region, it is a key building within the wider Birmingham Knowledge Quarter.

Located in the city’s Eastside area next to the new HS2 station, Aston and Birmingham City universities the masterplan aims to shape the medium and long term development of the Innovation Birmingham Campus and adjacent Science Park. In time this will form the heart of a new city neighbourhood or Knowledge Quarter that is based around the existing and emerging innovation and knowledge economies.

Enterprise Wharf sits in a highly visible location on the A38 Aston Expressway, with around 90,000 vehicles entering or leaving the city via this route each day. It is also prominent in approach views from the nearby universities and surrounding streets which provide good pedestrian links to the city centre, and the canal which adjoins the site.

Enterprise Wharf comprises a single ten storey building of 11,150sq.m net, designed not to fill the entire site to allow for future development. The new building complements the existing adjacent incubator building uses by providing the next stage of growth space by offering flexible floorplates of up to 1,115sq.m net to cater to different business sizes, with the potential to deliver between one and four tenant splits per floor. Entrances to these are all have equal prominence, accessed directly from the main lift lobby.

The building’s users enter via a large double height reception area with break-out furniture and a feature wall. The area is designed to facilitate an innovative operating method, whereby roving hosts with tablets welcome visitors to the building and assist as required, as opposed to being tethered to traditional reception desks. Designed to emulate a boutique hotel, the reception area also incorporates a range of informal seating and set down areas, a business lounge and a separate commercial space, all of which will animate the ground floor. Also on the ground floor are facilities for cyclists. There is an aspiration to achieve a Platinum WiredScore.

Roof terrace amenity spaces are included at two building levels. A private terrace at Level 8 and a large area of south facing roof space has been identified as a roof terrace for use by all tenants. This provides an attractive benefit for tenants and articulates the building façades which are particularly prominent in approach views of the building.

Representing the first SMART building for Bruntwood, it will act as a test-bed for occupier and landlord SMART building application. An EPC A rating is being targeted. Bruntwood have an aim to achieve Net Zero Carbon for their buildings portfolio.