Three Chamberlain Square is the latest building to complete as part of the £1.2 billion 17-acre Paradise Birmingham masterplan.
When completed, the masterplan will provide 10 buildings, including Grade A office space, retail and leisure venues, a four-star hotel and a residential tower, all arranged around a series of public squares and pedestrian routes.
Three Chamberlain Square mixes commercial office space with retail at ground floor level. It has a façade composed of over 8,000 red fluted terracotta piers with glazing sitting above red metal panels. The piers’ verticality echoes that of surrounding buildings, including the Corinthian columns of the adjacent Town Hall.
At street level, the façade steps back, with the piers bunching to form sculptural metal ogee arches over retail frontages. The decorative shape reflects motifs seen on nearby Victorian buildings, such as the Birmingham School of Art. The step-back also creates an implied arcade over the retail units at street level.
At the top, the building’s form again slopes back, the piers joining together to create a decorative crown that unifies its silhouette and conceals rooftop plant and workspaces.
Fully electric and fossil fuel-free, the building has over 250 windows that are openable for natural ventilation. The structure includes post-tensioned concrete slabs and no-pile foundations. Internally, low-carbon materials used include mycelium-based internal finishes, wood wool acoustic panels, lime wash paint and natural fibre floor finishes. These contribute to an embodied carbon figure of 449 kgCO₂e/m².
Architect’s view
Our aim was to design a building that feels deeply connected to its surroundings while setting a new standard for the future of the workplace. Three Chamberlain Square is more than just an office, it’s a catalyst for change. Sustainable, inclusive, beautifully crafted and unapologetically urban, it’s a place the city can truly be proud of.
Alina White, partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Project data
Location Birmingham
Start on site May 2023
Completion June 2025
Gross internal floor area 23,318m2
Construction cost Undisclosed
Architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Executive architect Weedon Architects
Client MEPC
Investor/developer Federated Hermes
Structural engineer Cundall
M&E consultant Cundall
QS AtkinsRéalis
Planning consultant Turley
Access consultant Meinhardt
BREEAM Assessor CCC Project Services
Façade subcontractor Inasus
MEP subcontractor King and Moffit
STR subcontractor MPB Structures
Project manager AtkinsRéalis
Main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine
Environmental performance data
Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2% Not assessed
Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >5% Not assessed
On-site energy generation 27,175kWh/year from PVs
Annual mains water consumption Not supplied
Airtightness at 50Pa 2.49 m3/h.m2)
Heating and hot water load DHW 119,015 kWh/yr; heating 58,333 kWh/yr (as built)
Operational energy 803,607 kWh/yr (landlord spaces)
Basebuild landlord energy load use 48 kWh/m2/yr
Predicted design life 50 years
Embodied carbon 449 kgCO2eq/m2
Whole-life carbon 805 kgCO2eq/m2
Annual CO2 emissions Not supplied
Energy Performance Certificate rating A
BREEAM Outstanding
NABERS UK rating 5 stars
Wired Score/Active Score Platinum