Bam has started constructing the first non-residential building in the £8bn regeneration of Brent Cross, west London.
Related Argent and Barnet Council appointed Bam to build the 14-storey office block, known as 3 Copper Square. Bam and Related Argent have not revealed the construction value of the project.
The scheme will be built with a hybrid cross-laminated timber and concrete frame and provide 22,000 square metres of workspace and flexible retail space at ground level.
Natwest is loaning the building £62.7m and Barnet Council has provided a £100m loan facility to fund its construction.
The £8bn Brent Cross regeneration project will provide 6,700 homes and workspace for 25,000 people over 180 acres. Seven residential buildings have started construction.
Midgard is currently building 120 affordable homes due to open later this year, and Galliford Try is on two build-to-rent schemes worth £87m and £75m.
JJ Rhatigan took over construction of a 662-room student accommodation building from Henry Construction, which went into administration last June.
A new £400m station connecting the development to central London opened last December. It was built by VolkerFitzpatrick and project managed by Mace.
Bam has worked on scores of projects for Argent, which was absorbed into Related Argent in May. It built several within the developer’s 20-year King’s Cross redevelopment, including its flagship retail destination Coal Drops Yard.
Bam London region director Rod Stiles said: “3 Copper Square aligns perfectly with our own values of building a sustainable tomorrow and leaving a positive impact on the communities where we build and we look forward to delivering this thriving new neighbourhood with our partners.”
Sheffield Hallam University has signed up as 3 Copper Square’s anchor tenant, occupying approximately 10,000 square metres across six of the building’s lower floors. The letting marks the university’s first campus outside of London.
Matt Flood, head of commercial development at Related Argent, said: “The start of construction at 3 Copper Square marks a massive step forward in creating a new business and innovation district at Brent Cross Town.
“This inspiring new hybrid timber and concrete-framed building will provide expansive workspaces that energise and connect.”
