Office 
Cat A
Fit-Out | M&E
80 000 sq ft
40 Weeks
Return to Case StudiesKin Edward House | New Street
With an old 1930’s building needing to be brought back to life, and repurposed for the needs of modern workers, we completed a full Cat A refurbishment of King Edward House on New Street.
This 80,000 sq ft building transformation has brought modern amenities and a refreshed workspace into a heritage Art Deco building from the mid-1930s. Rhino has added a new reception, gym, lifts and a roof terrace as well as delivered Cat A fit out across seven floors of office space.
The property is totally transformed into a modern Grade A workspace destination that is in a prime location in the centre of Birmingham.
In pictures
Initial Drivers
King Edward House is a historic priority in Birmingham and its origins were as a school, where it was the King Edward VI school from 1552 to 1936. After it was acquired for development, the building was to be turned into commercial space.
While initially the developers and the investors believed that the building was nearly finished, with only a portion of the works left to be completed, it quickly transpired that the building would need a lot more work than just a Cat A fit out.
Key Challenges
When Rhino first became involved in the refurbishment of King Edward House, the full condition of the building had not been accurately recorded in the initial surveys.
Cat A refurbishment works had already started in the property approximately six months before Rhino were introduced to the project after the original contractor had gone into liquidation. After initial walk rounds and surveys, it was apparent that key elements of the property had been underestimated and other essential procedures had been missed out of the process. This meant Rhino had to carry out remedial works to the building structure before works could begin.
The Proposal
After Rhino discovered the true state of the building and revealed details that the original scope of works would have to be reconfigured. The new scope of works would rectify the issues relating to key building services, compliance with new legislation, flooring, the construction of the roof, fresh air supply and fire safety to allow the project to move forward and avoid any further delays.
Through a detailed validation process, the team identified the risks and proposed various solutions to bring the building up to standard. This additional assessment meant that new challenges were discovered and reframed the project as a full building refurbishment, not just a Cat A fit out of the office floors.
In addition to the altered scope of works, Rhino still had to maintain sustainability as a priority for this project. The goal for the project was to achieve BREEAM Excellent and WiredScore Gold. To do this, Rhino took ownership of the accreditation process and ensured the project followed the criteria to stay as sustainable as possible.
Look & feel
With all the office floors being delivered as a Cat A space, the look and feel of King Edward House is only truly reflected in a few key areas.
The reception space greets tenants from New Street is designed to serve as a touchdown area as well as the entrance into the building. The space is modern and professional and has been designed to appeal to the range of potential businesses and sectors that could potentially occupy the building.
King Edward House is not formally listed, so preserving the original features became a stylistic choice rather than an obligation. In key parts of the office, such as the building’s staircase and a collection of original doors, the Art Deco aesthetic has been preserved and restored rather than replaced. The preservation of certain features serves as a nod to the building’s history and sits elegantly alongside the new modern interior.
The result
There is a long list of the technical upgrades that have been introduced into the building which include four new lifts, ventilation and fresh air supply upgrades, damp and mould removal, fire safety upgrades, new gym, new end-of-trip facilities and new WCs on each floor.
The success of this project at King Edward House is the result of close collaboration and coordination with stakeholders and specialist teams. The building now offers Grade A office accommodation for growing companies within Birmingham. A refreshed arrival experience at the new receptions helps to create a strong first impression and also has a visual connection to one of Birmingham’s busiest thoroughfares.
The roof terrace adds a huge amount of space to the building but importantly it gives tenants access to an outdoor area in the middle of the city. The gym is well serviced with a range of different machines and equipment to ensure tenants can look after their physical wellbeing without having to leave the building.
The completed project achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and a WiredScore Gold certification. It is a result everyone involved with the project is proud of as it reflects the meticulous approach of the Rhino team and the sizable investment made in upgrading the building infrastructure.
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