Around 60 people braved the dark and cold early this morning for Bruntwood's first ever Business Breakfast in Birmingham.The 19th floor of the newly refurbished McLaren Building on Priory Queensway was the setting for event where Chris Oglesby, Bruntwood's chief executive was due to talk about the company's plans for the Midlands. Oglesby spoke about two purchases to date the McLaren building and the purchase of Cornwall Buildings on Cornwall Street 12 years ago but admitted the firm "struggled to find value in the market then."
Future strategy was a little 'content lite' so I managed to nab Oglesby after the event for a quick update. He confirmed that Bruntwood is back on the acquisition trail in Brum and is looking to acquire unloved buildings ripe for refurbishment which it can pick up for a snip and add to its Birmingham portfolio.
Colin Sinclair today quit as chief executive of Manchester inward investment agency Midas to join Bruntwood. In the wake of the announcement Dan Cunningham spoke to Manchester agents, click here to read their reaction.
It's fair to say that it has done a good job with the McLaren building
which now boasts (much welcomed) new exterior cladding, a redesigned
reception and refurbished floors. However, I believe that this Eastside
gateway scheme - which sits cheek by jowl with the mixed-use Masshouse
site - will really reach its full potential once the public realm areas
have been fully addressed to the front of the building which will
properly link it with the Eastside development.
Denton Corker Marshall's Steve Quinlan enlightened the gathering about the architect's global projects, but my ears pricked up when he confirmed that the proposed Magistrates Court at Masshouse is the number one UK project priority for the government.
The long-awaited £60-£80m project will get the final sign off within the next month says Quinlan, then work will start on site in March 2010 with completion in 2012. The quirky curved building will hold 24 courts with offices above and will bring much needed footfall into the Eastside area.
Denton Corker Marshall's Steve Quinlan enlightened the gathering about the architect's global projects, but my ears pricked up when he confirmed that the proposed Magistrates Court at Masshouse is the number one UK project priority for the government.
The long-awaited £60-£80m project will get the final sign off within the next month says Quinlan, then work will start on site in March 2010 with completion in 2012. The quirky curved building will hold 24 courts with offices above and will bring much needed footfall into the Eastside area.
Leave a comment
What a user pic? Get a Gravatar!