Quartet vying to build prime Paradise block
ADESIGN competition has been launched for the next commercial building to be developed at Birmingham’s £700 million Paradise scheme.
A quartet of architecture firms, including one from Birmingham, have been shortlisted by project manager Argent to progress to the next stage of the tender.
The four firms will now bring forward their proposals for Three Chamberlain Square, with the winning design to be selected in October ahead of a planning application being lodged next year. Birmingham-based Associated Architects is joined by Shedkm from Liverpool, FCB Studios from London and Edinburgh’s Reiach on the final shortlist.
Three Chamberlain Square will sit next to Town Hall Birmingham and front onto Paradise Street close to the new West Midlands Metro tram stop.
The building makes up the second phase of work at Paradise along with a new four-star, 250-bedroom hotel and 13-storey office block One Centenary Way which is already under construction.
The first phase of the scheme comprises office buildings One and Two Chamberlain Square, home to financial services firm PwC and law firms DLA Piper and Knights among others, and surrounding public realm works and new roads.
The development team also recently announced plans to introduce a residential element to the project, which was always previously billed as office led, in the shape of a 49-storey apartment block called Octagon.
Rob Groves, regional director with Argent, said: “This is about more than just bringing forward another new building, it is also a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and demonstrates that, from a development perspective, the city is well and truly open for business and pressing ahead with ambitious plans to regenerate itself.
“This competition will help us to create a landmark new building in one of the most important locations of the entire Paradise site.
“Sitting next to the Town Hall and opposite a range of other listed and historic buildings on Paradise Street, there is real potential here to create an extraordinary new building that pays homage to the past while setting new standards of modern design and sustainability.
“We see the design competition as an exciting route to find exemplary ways forward for both new and established architects and we look forward to making an announcement on the final design later in the year.”
The overall masterplan for Paradise comprises up to ten new buildings containing office, residential, shops, bars, cafés and restaurants across 17 acres.
The redevelopment is being brought forward through a private/ public joint venture with Birmingham City Council and funding managed by Federated Hermes.