Birmingham, UK
The first commercial phase of the Aukett Swanke-designed Eastside Locks master plan, commissioned speculatively to provide new Grade A office space in the Birmingham market and to establish Eastside Locks as a new urban quarter
Project Details
Collective Team
The site is located east of Birmingham City Centre and is a 10 minute walk from New Street Station, optimally located for the future arrival of HS2.
The building secured a full pre-let in June 2015, and is now the new administrative headquarters for Birmingham City University’s Eastside campus.
It was winner of the Constructing Excellence ‘Building Project of the Year’ Award (West Midlands) in 2017.
Eastside Locks Master Plan
Main entrance to the building
Detail of feature entrance wall
The building comprises four storeys of highly efficient floor space wrapped around a perimeter core, with basement car parking and cyclist facilities. Emphasis is placed on the entrance with a dramatic corner cantilever over a double height space, which addresses the primary approach from Eastside City Park, and texture through an articulated façade that uses ceramic blades to protect the glass from sunlight and reveal the building along the street.
South west corner and entrance to basement parking and cycle storage
Courtyard
Floor to ceiling windows flood the open office space with natural light
The material choice offers a variety of textures which respond to the site’s quality of light which contributes significantly to its immediate urban environment, and sets the standard for the wider Eastside Locks master plan due to complete in 2026.
