GMI Construction Group Plc has reached a milestone in its contribution to a major regeneration project in Sheffield city centre with the practical completion of the landmark office building, Endeavour at Sheffield Digital Campus.
Appointed by developer Scarborough Group International (SGI), GMI has now delivered each of the four phases of the masterplan for Sheffield Digital Campus, which has created almost a quarter of a million sq ft of grade A workspace and supporting 2,500 skilled jobs.
It has also helped create a strategic link between the city’s existing business district and the transport interchange.
Endeavour, the final phase of the digital campus, comprises 65,000 sq ft of Grade A workspace and was originally delivered as a speculative development until BT Group agreed to take a 15-year lease in late 2022.
Endeavour has been designed to create to a dramatic landmark within the city centre, featuring an impressive, glazed façade, double-height reception, seven highly-efficient and flexible floorplates, ground floor amenity space and a rooftop terrace providing panoramic skyline views.
Endeavour also addresses some of the key challenges faced by occupiers in relation to their ESG commitments, by reducing carbon emissions, maximising operational efficiencies and creating an exemplary workspace aligned to the highest health and wellbeing standards in UK real estate, including EPC ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’.
Features include an all-electric energy system, LED lighting, floor to ceiling glazing flooding the floorplates with natural daylight, increased ventilation filtration, a 7:10 EV car parking ratio, 78 cycle spaces, along with dedicated high-quality changing and shower facilities.
Endeavour and the Sheffield Legacy Park development is the latest project in a long-standing partnership between GMI and SGI, which includes significant schemes such as the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, including the Community Stadium, and the Thorpe Park business park in Leeds.
Andrew Hurcomb, Divisional Managing Director, Yorkshire, at GMI Construction Group, said: “Endeavour highlights the benefits of a collaborative approach between developer, architect, contractor and supply chain to deliver a contemporary and highly sustainable building, which minimises its impact on the environment. We have employed modern methods of construction and materials, such as carbon neutral aluminium, which led to a significant cut in carbon emissions from the construction of the building envelope.
“This is the culmination of a significant project that has been a cornerstone of our ongoing, successful relationship with SGI, which has seen the delivery of some important Yorkshire schemes, here in Sheffield and across the region. There is synergy in our values to deliver buildings of the highest standard that meet both current and future requirements, which is clear to see at Sheffield Digital Campus.”
Adam Varley, Development Director at SGI, said: “Practical completion at Endeavour marks the final chapter in our 15-year journey at Sheffield Digital Campus and is an achievement that everyone involved can be extremely proud of.
“Building on what is a very tight site in the city centre, the construction process has not been without its challenges, especially given the impact that both COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine has had on the construction of the building but, I am delighted to say that everyone’s collective efforts have resulted in the delivery of Sheffield’s greenest and most significant new build Grade A office building for several years.
“Securing BT as a tenant mid-way through the speculative construction of the building was a fantastic achievement and is testament to the development’s outstanding credentials, not to mention the strength of Sheffield’s professional services sector in helping to attract and retain major employers.”
