M&G Real Estate and its development partner Ballymore have hosted a topping out ceremony as Three Snowhill, the largest speculative city-centre office scheme built in the UK outside London, reaches its highest point in construction.
To mark the milestone, trainee sub-contractor Matt Alcock inserted a golden bolt into a steel girder at the highest point of the building. He was joined by Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council; and Waheed Nazir, Corporate Director (Economy), at Birmingham City Council.
Mr Alcock, a subcontractor for BAM Construction, is undertaking a Finishes and Interiors Sector course before a two-year apprenticeship, having previously been unemployed. He is one of 27 new staff who BAM have taken on to work on Three Snowhill, among their more than 200 staff at the site. In total, more than 400 jobs have been supported by the construction work.
Three Snowhill, the final building on the four-acre Snowhill estate, will complete an attractive new gateway to Birmingham’s thriving central business district. The 420,000 sq ft 17-storey development is less than one year away from completion and will be the only new Grade A office space delivered in Birmingham in the first half of 2019. Its flexible floorplates, suitable for a range of work styles and reflecting the latest in office design, will enable fit-out designers to create unique workplaces.
Cllr Ian Ward said: “The Birmingham skyline is going through a dramatic change. The city is humming with the noise of regeneration. Looking at the number of major development projects it is clear the city is undergoing a massive transformation and Three Snowhill embodies Birmingham’s growing confidence.
“The whole Snowhill estate is part of a new Birmingham and the topping out of Three Snowhill represents more than simply a landmark moment for a fantastic new building, it also typifies a confident and ambitious Birmingham; a city that is quite literally on the up.”
Aaron Pope, Director – Asset Management at M&G Real Estate, added: “Our investment in Three Snowhill is a sign of our confidence in Birmingham. The arrival of HS2 will further boost the £110 billion regional economy, and support further inward investment and job creation.
“We ensure our offices are best-in-class in a demanding and ever-changing market. Promoting staff wellbeing is vital in the modern workplace, and the large open floorplates flooded with natural light will make this an office where people want to be. By matching this excellence in design to the latest digital infrastructure, we can help to boost staff productivity in a happy, healthy workplace.”
Richard Probert, project director at Three Snowhill, has worked on the estate since 2003. He said: “When Three Snowhill completes we will have transformed a long-derelict site at the gateway to the city centre, enabled the Metro city centre extension with the viaduct across the site and delivered nearly 1m sq ft of prime office space set in more than three acres of public realm. It will be great to finally see the finished product next year.”
Rod Stiles, Midlands regional director at BAM, said: “BAM is proud to be part of delivering the largest speculative development in the UK outside of London and equally pleased with that we have helped to create new employment opportunities for 27 people.”
JLL and Savills are joint letting agents at Three Snowhill.
