Birmingham's Mclaren building to undergo £2.4m facelift

One of Birmingham's most prominent and recognisable office towers is to undergo a major overhaul.

Property group Bruntwood SciTech is injecting £2.4 million into its Mclaren building to modernise the block which first opened in 1972.

The project will see the building undergo a full refurbishment to expand its workspace offer to include turning the unused basement into a gym with changing rooms, a new "contemplation room" for meditation or reflection and bike storage space.

New serviced offices aimed at start-up and growing businesses will be added, ranging from two to 30 desks, alongside its current space to lease.

The reception and lounges, with accompanying breakout areas, will be completely redesigned with the aim of giving the building a brighter and more open feel.

The renovation work is being carried out in partnership with Manchester-based interior design company Axi Studios.

Once completed next spring, Mclaren, in The Priory Queensway, will have 112,000 sq ft of workspace across 20 floors and will also have a new name which is yet to be announced.

Current tenants in the building include Energy Saving Group and infrastructure specialist Kier Highways.

This latest project by Manchester-based Bruntwood SciTech follows on from it recently completing work on its Cornerblock building, in Cornwall Street, and starting to revamp Centre City, in Hill Street.

It is also working in partnership with University of Birmingham on the new Health Innovation Campus in Selly Oak.

Mohamed Ali, associate director for Bruntwood SciTech in Birmingham, said: "We want Mclaren to be a place where creative and innovative businesses can grow and succeed.

"This investment will help us to achieve that by not only improving the calibre of workspaces and amenities available but offering access to both our Birmingham and UK-wide business support services too.

"We look forward to offering a space for businesses and their employees that promotes wellbeing and a healthy work-life balance."