This View Will Blow You Away: Work Starts On Rockspring/Sterling's 26 Storey Office Tower

Site surveys began Monday as work started on Rockspring/Sterling’s 26-storey office building at 103 Colmore Row.

Rockspring Property Investment Managers and Sterling Property Ventures, the development team behind Birmingham’s tallest office tower, selected BAM for the £80M build contract.

Site surveys are taking place alongside further design work on the 224K SF tower. The main substructure works will begin in June, with completion the tower due for autumn 2020.

At 346 feet high, with the apex 807 feet above sea level, it is the highest new office building in the U.K. under construction outside London.

Designed by architects Doone Silver Kerr, the building features a winter garden, 18th-floor terrace and multi-purpose lobby and business lounges.

103 Colmore Row is Rockspring’s second development in Birmingham. The European property investment manager is also behind the city’s first purpose-built private rental scheme, The Forum, in Southside.

103 Colmore Row is on the site of the 22-storey former NatWest Tower. The original proposals to develop the former building, empty since 2003, were shelved during the 2008-12 recession.

Sterling acquired the site in November 2014 and, partnering with Rockspring, has worked the new scheme through the planning process, as well as a 24-month phase demolishing the former NatWest Tower.

“It has been a long haul to get to this day but it is undoubtedly a proud one,” Sterling Property Ventures Managing Director James Howarth said.

“Our top floor bar and restaurant mean the doors of this building will be open not just to commercial occupiers. Anyone wishing to enjoy the fantastic panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas will be welcome inside.”

Joint agents are Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank.