Bruntwood SciTech has unveiled plans to transform the Cornerblock city centre innovation hub in Birmingham into a ‘forward-thinking workspace’.
Situated in the heart of the Colmore business district, Cornerblock’s communal spaces will be refurbished to provide new and improved areas where ‘customers can collaborate and connect’, as well as new state-of-the-art wellbeing facilities.
A new studio, cardio gym, secure bike store with maintenance stations, and refurbished changing rooms, will also be provided in the building.
The refurbishment, which is being undertaken by Estilo, is due to commence next month and will complete in April.
Rob Valentine, regional director – West Midlands for Bruntwood SciTech, which is a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, said: “Work starting at Cornerblock builds on the momentum gained during Bruntwood SciTech’s recent investment, as we move ahead with our increased commitment to Birmingham focused on creating spaces for innovation-led businesses to connect, collaborate, and grow.
“Cornerblock has the benefit of being situated at the heart of Birmingham’s important central business district, ideally positioning it to attract global, market-leading companies. Businesses also have the opportunity to connect into Bruntwood SciTech’s ecosystem of science and technology businesses that are at the forefront of many of the innovations of today, both at our other Birmingham locations – such as Innovation Birmingham, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus and the Cornwall Buildings, and across the UK.
“Our mission is to ensure that Birmingham is at the heart of this progress by providing the state-of-the-art workspaces businesses need, alongside the knowledge and backing of industry and university partners.”
Bruntwood SciTech has also expanded its West Midlands team, appointing Moe Ali as senior asset manager from Oval Real Estate. In his new role, Ali will be responsible for driving Bruntwood SciTech’s programme of transformations across its portfolio in Birmingham.
Ali said: “I have been a huge admirer of Bruntwood SciTech for a number of years. Its ongoing commitment to the continued advancement of Birmingham and the innovation economy, support for technology and science-driven businesses, and close relationships with key stakeholders will create a legacy for the region. In my new role, I hope to build on this success creating best-in-class workspaces to support the ambitions of the people and businesses across the city and region.”
Valentine added: “We are thrilled that Moe has joined us at what is an incredibly exciting time for Bruntwood SciTech, but also the city of Birmingham. Following significant investment, we are ready to hit the ground running this year and get underway with our extensive plans to develop and enhance office and lab-enabled space across the city, building on the existing ecosystem we have already established here. Through our ongoing projects, we are aiming to provide opportunities for Birmingham to compete globally and act as a springboard for forward-thinking businesses to develop, grow and ultimately thrive.”
