Spectrum
Birmingham
by Acanthus WSM Architects
for Frontier Estates

Spectrum is a major refurbishment of a 1970's office building in the commercial centre of Birmingham. The refurbishment provides 57,000 sqft of high quality, air conditioned lettable space, and has become a catalyst for the regeneration of this developing area.

The original building was extended forward on the lower four floors to reflect the building line of Edmund Street. This enabled level access, additional lettable space and a fourth floor balcony to be created. The glazed facade is framed by metallic cladding and oversailed by an aerodeck canopy to provide a bold but contemporary response to the adjacent listed buildings.

The spacious reception and lift lobby are finished in slate, porcelain tiles, polished plaster and enhanced with an imaginative fibre optic lighting scheme including coloured cold cathod ceiling lights.

After dark the screen printed glass and inovative external lighting create a theatrical translucent feature ensuring Spectrum is a visible landmark both by night and day.