Gensler Custard Factory Offices, Birmingham Regeneration Project, Interior Images
Gensler Moves to Custard Factory in Birmingham
Office Development in the West Midlands, England, UK design by Gensler Architects
21 Jan 2016
Custard Factory in Birmingham
Design: Gensler
Location: Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Gensler backs Birmingham’s regeneration potential and moves into Custard Factory
Global design and architect practice launches new office in Digbeth’s creative hub
The world’s largest global architect, design and planning practice, Gensler, has launched a new office in Birmingham – its first UK office outside of London. The global firm is investing in Birmingham’s growing design and creative hub as it eyes the potential for regeneration and leading development opportunities across the UK.
Gensler’s new Birmingham office will be the headquarters for Gensler’s regional activity. Located in The Custard Factory in the Digbeth area of Birmingham City Centre, its arrival follows the emergence of ambitious and creative clusters in the city, underpinned by Birmingham’s strategic position as a launch pad for the UK’s manufacturing renaissance.
The office will be led by Alistair Cory, who will draw on over 25 years’ experience to develop the company’s presence in the Midlands and UK regions. Alistair commented: “Locating our regional headquarters in Birmingham was a deliberate decision; as the UK wakes up to devolution, the new office will engage with a city on the cusp of a resurgence. Growth potential is huge, regeneration is well underway and the UK has one of the fastest growing economies in the G7. The Custard Factory lends vibrancy and creativity amidst a melting pot of entrepreneurialism and commerce, providing a platform from which to deliver unparalleled architecture, design and consultation, and to diversify into new industries.”
The new office has ambitious plans for growth and recruitment, with Birmingham’s strong design talent pool as one of the key factors attracting Gensler to the area.
Cory continued: “Above all, we plan to foster the array of local talent by partnering with local businesses and universities, as well as reversing migration and attracting key talent from across the UK’s thriving cities – including the capital. We have a robust strategy in place to help us grow significantly over the next five years, strengthening our commitment to the city and helping to shape its future.”
Coinciding with two new business wins, the office opening has quickly established the Gensler team both nationally and internationally. At the end of December 2015, Gensler won the contract to redesign Regency Wharf, creating a new retail and leisure offering on the Birmingham Old Canal. In January 2016, Gensler were commissioned to design the Al Mansour automotive show rooms in Egypt, highlighting that the new regional headquarters have an international reach. Work on both projects will commence at the end of January 2016.
The office opening was officially marked by the first in a series of seminars which explored harnessing sustainable growth in Birmingham’s Custard Factory with its metamorphoses into a ‘maker economy’. Panellists included leaders from across the West Midlands , including Lucan Gray, Owner and Creators of The Custard Factory, Louise Brooke-Smith, Managing Director of Brook Smith Planning, Nicola Fleet-Milne, Business Development Director, FleetMilne Property, Simon Delahunty, Manager of the City Design and Conservation Team at Birmingham City Council, and Robert Groves, Senior Project Director, Argent Services LLP.
Louise Brooke-Smith, Director of long established Birmingham based planning consultancy Brooke Smith Planning, added: “The arrival of Gensler’s regional headquarters in Birmingham is a landmark moment for the city, its business community, and the architecture, construction and infrastructure industries too.
“It is a testament to the work and development achieved in Birmingham up to this point that the City has attracted a global company like Gensler. My Practice looks forward to working with the Gensler team closely ongoing, as the local economy goes from strength to strength and we foster yet more talent from the West Midlands pool.”
Working in both the public and private sectors, the new office is already pursuing projects in industries with which the region is renowned, including aerospace technology, automotive and manufacturing, financial services and game design.
Gensler Moves to Custard Factory in Birmingham image / information received 210116
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