City office building scoops design award

A new city centre office centre in Sunderland has been named as the best commercial building in the North.

The Beam – the first office building on the for - mer Vaux site in the city – scooped the accolade in the British Council for Offices Awards, which aims to provide public recognition for top quality design and functionality.

The building is home to global grocer Ocado; h ea l th a n d s a fety and training business, Penshaw View, and management software company Asset55.

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said he was thrilled the 59,427 sq ft office building had been picked out by the judges.

He said: “The Beam is a stunning building and it’s fantastic to see that recognised by the BCO Awards. It offers something unique to the North East marketplace, and is, of course, the first of a number of new office spaces that will be developed on the Riverside Sunderland site, which will bring new jobs and opportunities to the people and businesses in the city.” The office opened its doors last year and wa s d e s i g n e d by award-winning architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

City Hall – Sunderland City Council’s new headquarters – is taking shape nearby and plans are in hand for two more office buildings at the site – the first of which is planned to open its doors this year.

The buildings form part of a wider delivery plan for Riverside Sunderland, that will see it provide a million square feet of office space, 1,000 new homes and leisure and play facilities.