The Southside Building Refurbishment Architect
Albany House Repositioning
Albany House was a prominent mixed-use building located in the heart of the Southside District of Birmingham. The building had undergone some external refurbishment works but the internal spaces, ground floor retail and reception was in desperate need of modernisation. We were appointed by Paloma Capital LLP in 2018 to provide architectural commercial design for the complete refurbishment and repositioning of the building which was finally re-branded as The Southside Building in 2022.
Birmingham Architect
Co&Co Architects’ principal Anthony Cowan led the project while partner at Whitman Wilde Architects, and led the project from conception through construction. The project included full architecture and interior design services and we collaborated with other specialist consultants to provide furniture procurement, building identity, wayfinding, and styling.
The project was procured under a Design and Build contract and Co&Co architects remained heavily involved working closely with Willmott Dixon Contractors to deliver the project to the quality aspirations of the client.
Creative space design
Working within the constraints of an existing building and a low budget, we cleverly adopted a strategy of low cost and high impact interventions, transforming the overall building identity and aesthetic to a contemporary office that meets modern work tends.
Office Fit-out
The project included of 20,000Sqft of cat A office space, as well as the cat-B office fit-out for some of the future tenants. Our architectural firm was tasked with reimagining the office space layout to maximize functionality and aesthetics and to meet the needs of the end user.
Sustainable office design
Repurposing and upgrading an existing building avoided demolition and ensured extended use of an existing building, whilst improving the internal environment for tenants. By integrating smart technology and efficient lighting solutions, we’ve created an office interior design that is both beautiful and energy-efficient. The entrance and common areas use natural materials and greenery, in line with our practices’ sustainable design philosophy. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also promotes a healthier indoor environment and wellbeing in the workplace. The project highlights the important link between architectural design and sustainable design
Reception design
One of the key highlights was the reception design, transformed the presence of the building on the street. The reception serves as a café, seating and break-out area, and informal meeting area for employees and visitors.
