Coventry City Council's Two Friargate aspires to be the city's most sustainable office building and it is that ambition that saw it selected for the CoStar Impact Awards' West Midlands commercial development of the year.
Two Friargate, which is nearing completion, is the second building to be delivered as part of the wider Friargate regeneration project in Coventry city centre, a proposed 37-acre business district.
The development is supported by owner Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority as they look to drive a significant injection of investment into the city centre. The goal is to ensure Two Friargate boosts Coventry’s economy by making use of the talent within the city and the West Midlands. Local businesses are heavily involved with the project and the development is creating valuable jobs and apprenticeships during its construction.
Two Friargate is next to the Railway Station, and the business district will also include bars, restaurants, and other uses.
About the project: Friargate will bring physical, economic and social benefits to the city and sub-region.
The premier office building designed by architect Allies and Morrison will be located in Coventry's first dedicated business district. Two Friargate will be available to lease from April 2023 and comprise office spaces from 11,000 square feet to 134,000 square feet.
What the judges said: RCA Regeneration's director Katie Parsons said: "This development will make an important contribution towards the regeneration in Coventry city centre, with significant investment and a strong sustainability agenda."
Avison Young's managing director Carl Potter added: "Two Friargate is a brave move by Coventry City Council (and its funding partner WMCA) to drive quality product into a market which as been untested to a large extent by the private sector. It deserves to be successful."
Thomas Lister's director Rachel Lister said: "The scheme represents the continued delivery of a major brownfield city centre site in a highly accessible and sustainable location, being a stone's throw from the railway station and city amenity and facilities. The scheme capitalises on the delivery of One Friargate, helping to establish this a major commercial destination and business district within the city. Engagement with local businesses and thus ability to deliver high value jobs to the surrounding area that it serves add to the sustainability of the project, as does the buildings green credentials."
They made it happen: David Rigby, partner – leasing agency, Cushman & Wakefield; Scott Rutherford, partner, Cushman & Wakefield.