Flexible and sustainable Birmingham office

With sustainability and connectivity at the heart of the design, Arup's new Birmingham space brings together staff, clients and collaborators in an open, welcoming and inspiring environment.

Project partners

Core Five
Weedon Architects
WSP

Key features

Central statement staircase
Flexible spaces including event space
Neurodiversity
Café, pantry and teapoints

Project description

Arup, seeking to enhance their workspace environment, commissioned the Cat A and Cat B fit out of One Centenary Way's bottom four floors and basement. Their objective was to create a collaborative, sustainable and inclusive space reflecting Arup's values and connecting with the local community. Key focusses included establishing a central 'heart' and 'spine' within the building, whilst maintaining a curb appeal and catering to users across the neurodiverse spectrum.

Diversity, collaboration and social value

We designed and delivered a range of bespoke features including bleacher stairs, a statement central staircase and internal partitions to enhance the sense of connectivity throughout the office and promote collaboration among employees and visitors. More than just aesthetic choices, these strategic interventions break down physical barriers between teams and encourage interaction across different floors. The centralised spaces, particularly at the base of the atrium and the public-facing event space, are locations for sharing and interaction. We also incorporated amenities like a café and cycle storage to promote wellness and eco-conscious commuting. Challenges such as social value maximisation and embodied carbon reduction were addressed through clear planning, engagement with local SMEs and local schools. We assessed our carbon emissions using our bespoke in-house tool, 'CarboniCa'.

Sign, sealed, delivered

The end result is Arup's third largest global office space that successfully brings together staff, clients and collaborators in an open, welcoming and inspiring environment, ultimately changing the way the client conducts business for the better. The emphasis on inclusivity accommodates for a variety of diverse working styles and contributes to a more accessible and equitable workspace in Central Birmingham. The commitment to sustainability is evidenced through the building being on course to achieve WELL Platinum Building Certification.