Work begins on city’s first smart-enabled building

The development of Enterprise Wharf marks the expansion of the region’s leading digital and technology campus, which is already home to an established cluster of more than 150 businesses.

It will provide much needed grow-on space for tech businesses looking to expand or relocate to the city.

It is located next to Aston University and Birmingham City University, in the heart of the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter.

The 10-storey, 120,000 sq ft Enterprise Wharf will feature a large, open plan reception and collaboration space, cycle storage with kit drying room, space for electric vehicle charging, showers and a roof garden with stunning views over the city.

Landscaping will create a new green space for the campus, providing direct access to the adjacent Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

David Hardman, managing director of Bruntwood SciTech – Birmingham, said: “Enterprise Wharf will be a valuable and important addition to Birmingham’s already thriving tech ecosystem. Birmingham boasts world-class universities, a skilled talent pool and fantastic transport links making it the UK’s top city for startups.

"The Innovation Birmingham Campus has long held a reputation as a dynamic innovation community for SMEs. This expansion now opens up the campus’s innovation capabilities to larger companies looking for opportunities to access innovation and talent in the region.

“Birmingham’s first smart-enabled building offers a unique and unrivalled opportunity for tech businesses to benefit from super-fast and reliable connectivity, smart access control and visitor management as well as the ability to control temperature and lighting to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve wellbeing and sustainability.”

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has invested £5 million from its Local Growth Fund to support the development of Enterprise Wharf which is due to complete in late 2022.