GMI Construction begins work on Sheffield’s new office complex (GB)

GMI Construction begins work on Sheffield’s new speculative office complex (GB)

GMI Construction, acting on behalf of its customer Scarborough Group International (SGI), has officially started on-site to deliver a new 62,862ft² state-of-the-art office building in Sheffield city centre. Currently the biggest speculative office development underway in the city centre, ‘Endeavour’ forms the fourth and final phase at the acclaimed Sheffield Digital Campus (Sheffield DC).

 

GMI is contracted to deliver the impressive eight-storey Grade A office building, which offers highly efficient floorplates of up to 10,323ft². A private 3,584ft² roof terrace on the sixth floor overlooking the city’s transport interchange, the iconic Park Hill Flats and panorama beyond is also included. Scheduled to be completed by the end of summer 2022, the fully funded development is the final of four visually impressive buildings on the Sheffield DC site, which have all been delivered by GMI.

 

The design of Endeavour has been modified to respond to trends in respect of the future use of workspaces, accelerated by the pandemic making the office environment a safer place to work including reduced touchpoints, but also appreciating the increasing prevalence of agile-hybrid working styles many businesses are adopting. The development, which has a GDV of €31.5m (£27m), will create up to 140 construction jobs and, once complete, will accommodate up to 800 office workers.  It is a major vote of confidence in Sheffield city centre, where the supply of existing and pipeline office space has diminished, leaving a major shortage of space to cater to existing and future demand. 

 

Adam Varley, Head of Commercial at SGI, said: “We are pleased to announce the start of speculative construction on-site to deliver the final phase at Sheffield DC which brings nearly a quarter of million sq ft of prime business space to the city centre.  GMI Construction is a trusted long-term partner on the project and, together with our design consultants CJCT Architects, they have helped us to evolve the building in line with the future of workspaces. We are delighted to report that there is already strong interest from potential occupiers looking for a well-located, premium workspace with flexible, open plan floor plates in the city centre. The building’s impressive design really creates a sense of arrival, with a double-height entrance reception and new social space allowing visitors and colleagues to interact.”

 

Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “Easily accessible, high-quality office space is absolutely central to attracting investment into our region and Endeavour offers great potential for co-working in the heart of Sheffield. As a council we are committed to delivering infrastructure, space and buildings that reaffirm our position as England’s fourth-largest city and create an environment where we can thrive for years to come, and I believe that Endeavour will be a great asset to our city and complement the transformation of the city centre that is currently taking place.”

 

Councillor Paul Turpin, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills at Sheffield City Council, said: “The next couple of years will be a vital time for new developments and regeneration as we begin our Covid-19 recovery and start to look towards the future of our city. I am pleased Endeavour will have an “excellent” BREEAM rating and is taking wellbeing into account using the WELL building standard. Well-being and sustainability must be the focus of new developments in Sheffield. Sheffield Digital Campus will play an important role in boosting the local economy and offering an attractive setting for colleagues to come together; whether you’re working in the office multiple days a week or just visiting for an important meeting. It’s essential that we have a variety of flexible spaces on offer in the city centre that best meet the needs of those using them - for some people that will be open plan hospitality venues such as Kommune, Cutlery Works, or a coffee at Marmadukes, and for others it will be purpose-built, dedicated office space such as Endeavour.”

 

Lee Powell, Divisional Managing Director of GMI Construction Group, said: “It is fantastic to continue our work at Sheffield DC and start on site with Endeavour, the final phase of this impressive project.  It is the last parcel of land on this prime site and so there are tight constraints on space for construction but our experience in delivering the other buildings on site allows us to apply value engineering to complete within the 71 weeks schedule.”

 

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