As tipped by the Enquirer last October, Skanska secured the £50m design and build contract for the Fletcher Priest Architects designed scheme, having previously been engaged during the demolition phase.
It will now start building the 170,000 sq ft office project which will be capped with a triple height glazed roof structure that will encapsulate a roof garden.
The building is designed to achieve a BREAAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating and will be 80% more energy efficient than the building it replaces.
It also reuses over 50% of the original structural mass that is part of an extensive sustainability agenda that shortens the construction programme, and helps avoid risks in the ground.
Development finance for the speculative office scheme has been provided by Eurohypo and the project has an expected circa £115m total development cost.