Sheffield City Council has selected Willmott Dixon to repurpose a former retail building on Fargate into a new music venue and collaborative workspace.
The £14.4m Event Central project involves substantial structural alterations to create a new atrium spanning the ground to first floor, comprehensive strengthening works to accommodate revised loadings, façade reimagining, and complete fit-out of both music venue and workspace elements.
Work is scheduled to begin by the end of August, with the venue featuring a 200-person live event space and café/bar area on the ground floor, plus four upper floors dedicated to co-working space and meeting rooms.
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Our local team of regeneration experts bring a wealth of experience to Event Central and we’re delighted to play our part in the regeneration of Fargate, creating a space designed to empower this city’s boundless creativity.
“We will ensure creating opportunities for the local community is at the heart of this project. Willmott Dixon, alongside its supply chain partners, is set to deliver 300 hours of employment support to residents, creating two new employment opportunities for local people who are not in education, employment or training. We will also support 75 weeks of apprenticeship training for young people and volunteer upwards of 150 hours in support of local organisations.”
Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee at Sheffield City Council, added: “Sheffield is home to some legendary venues, known across the country and we want Event Central to be added to that list. The transformation of the building into this fantastic space will take place right before people’s eyes and will cap off the end of the regeneration of Fargate.”
