Enterprise Wharf
Client: Bruntwood SciTech
The brief
CPW were appointed to provide full MEP design engineering services for Enterprise Wharf, a £30 million development providing contemporary, flexible office space in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside. As an early landmark within Bruntwood’s Innovation Birmingham campus, it sets the standard for future development and regeneration in the Eastside area.
The new Grade ‘A’ office space features 11,150 sqm across ten storeys, with private and communal roof terraces, cyclist facilities and 360° active frontages. Based on the canal side, Enterprise Wharf boasts attractive views and excellent pedestrian and transport connections. The building stands at the heart of Birmingham’s emerging Knowledge Quarter, close to both Aston and Birmingham City universities, making it a prominent feature in the Eastside area.
Designing for flexibility and performance
CPW’s strategy was founded on a passive-led design approach that minimised energy demand before integrating renewable technologies. Flexible MEP solutions were developed to enable floors to be subdivided into multiple units, allowing for future expansion, which was a key client objective.
CPW were also commissioned by Bruntwood SciTech to deliver MEP fit‑out design for the ground floor and several upper floors of the newly constructed building. The works involved subdividing open‑plan areas into dedicated offices and adapting base‑build services to suit the new layout.
The ground floor required significant modifications to accommodate an enlarged reception with a refreshment zone and meeting spaces. The original open‑plan office was reconfigured into three smaller offices, with part converted into a gym for occupants.
The fit‑out works included smart general and emergency lighting, fire alarm systems, small power and data, ventilation, heating and cooling via fan coil units, smart building controls, domestic water services, and public health services.
Delivering a sustainable, low-carbon workplace
Delivering a future-proof, sustainable building was at the centre of the design and delivery. CPW designed a fully decarbonised heating and cooling system via a high-efficiency 4-pipe heat pump technology, which support the client’s Net Zero Carbon objectives.
CPW’s requisite documentation and energy modelling led to the building achieving BREEAM Excellent certification, alongside an EPC A rating and WiredScore Platinum certification.
Overcoming project challenges
CPW and the wider project team worked closely to overcome site challenges and deliver a high-quality facility with well-coordinated services. The architectural vision required exposed services in key areas, requiring close coordination with the team to create a clean aesthetic while maintaining system performance, accessibility and future expansion.
With a limited plant footprint available, CPW carefully coordinated service routes and plant locations to maximise lettable floor space while ensuring systems remained accessible for maintenance.
The client’s ambition to create a more inviting ground-floor environment with enhanced amenities required careful delivery to minimise disruption to the wider building. Using the existing as-fitted Revit model, CPW worked with the contractor to optimise the design and programme while maintaining cost efficiency.
Supporting Birmingham’s Innovation district
As part of Birmingham’s Big City Plan to regenerate and redevelop the Eastside area, Enterprise Wharf has emerged as a flagship project and established a benchmark for commercial development within the city’s growing Knowledge Quarter. Through innovative MEP engineering, flexible workplace design and a fully decarbonised services strategy, CPW helped create a future-ready building that supports occupier wellbeing and the client’s long-term sustainability ambitions.
Key features:
BREEAM ‘Excellent’
EPC A
WiredScore Platinum
Fully decarbonised heating and cooling system
Birmingham’s first SMART building
10 storeys and 11,150 sqm of Grade A office space
All images courtesy of Associated Architects and Ben McPhee.
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