Business boost for Mailbox

Global engineering consultancy, WSP, has moved 700 staff into its new Birmingham headquarters in the city’s iconic Mailbox building following a £7 million refurbishment.

Part of plans to consolidate WSP’s Midlands presence, the move brings more than 700 staff from smaller offices across the region together in the state-of-the-art 46,700 sq ft space. The relocation aims to drive further collaboration between WSP’s specialist engineers, technicians, scientists, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as design and programme professionals, as it delivers major projects in the region including HS2’s Curzon Street Station.

The delivery of the workplace, designed by WSP’s own team in conjunction with Idaco Ltd and refurbishment specialist Overbury, provides a quality, flexible and dynamic working space focused on the health and wellbeing of its staff. Employees will benefit from cutting-edge design, large amounts of natural light, large open spaces, canal views, all located at the heart of the Mailbox’s mixed-use estate.
The project is compliant with global healthy workplace certification FitWel and has been delivered in-line with WSP’s environmental and sustainability targets, which include its entire UK business becoming carbon neutral by 2025.

Malcolm Davidson, director at WSP, said: “This move is a key milestone for WSP, one that highlights our commitment to Birmingham and the Midlands. Over recent years, we have built a strong track record in successfully leading flagship projects in the city including Smart Motorways, the 212 Broad Street Tower, the Bullring and Grand Central, solidifying our position as a go-to engineering consultancy across a range of disciplines, delivered in a workspace that allows for us to attract the very best talent to be creative and innovate.”

“We wanted this office to embody our specialist approach and strive for excellence, and with projects including HS2’s Curzon Street Station just getting underway, it provides the perfect location for our staff to thrive and continue to deliver the high-calibre work we’re known for. We’d like to thank Brockton Capital for leasing us the space, their project team and Overbury and wider partners who supported the delivery of such a forward-thinking workspace.”

Andrew Wood, managing director at Overbury Central, added: “The Mailbox is such an iconic Birmingham building and we are honoured to have been entrusted with the transformation, of what is one of the largest office floor plates in the Midlands, into a modern high-quality workplace fit for the future.

“While the project did present some logistical challenges, including managing the fit out around members of the public and keeping noise to a minimum for the BBC – which broadcasts live from the building – we’re thrilled to see the finished piece and WSP staff already enjoying the space.

“Birmingham has had a record few years in terms of take-up of office space and as demand continues to grow for Grade A space, there’s a real opportunity for landlords to refurbish their space, like Brockton Capital has done at the Mailbox with WSP.”

WSP and landlord Brockton Capital announced the pre-let in January, with WSP joining a range of existing tenants at the Mailbox estate including the BBC, Associated Architects and Advanced.