5 Centenary Square is Make’s fourth building in Birmingham’s ambitious £500m Arena Central masterplan, which we also designed. Located on the south-west corner of the city’s grand Centenary Square, the building acts as a gateway to the 9.2-acre regeneration site and will offer 15,800m² of Grade A office space over eight storeys. The once-again prestigious square is now home to HSBC UK and will also house HMRC and the University of Birmingham – each in a different Make-designed building.
Our brief for 5 Centenary Square was to create a building that related to its civic surroundings, which include the Symphony Hall, Library of Birmingham and Hall of Memory. The facade facing the square is a chequerboard of pale cream precast concrete panels to match the Portland stone of neighbouring buildings, with recessed glazing that completes the pattern. The curved elevation provides a complementary counterpoint to the Grade II-listed Municipal Bank next door and draws people into the square and the newly created Bank Court to the rear of the building.
Bold but respectful, 5 Centenary Square will provide a fitting introduction to Arena Central as well as Birmingham’s civic and commercial future. It is due on site early 2020.

Our bold building design, paired with the generous park landscape, will create a striking new place in the heart of Birmingham.

5 Centenary Square’s distinctive design reflects the civic importance of the adjacent Centenary Square and the building’s role as a gateway into the new Arena Central development.


