Case Studies

RICS

Size

5,500 Sq ft

Location

Birmingham

Sector

Property & Serviced Office

Scope

Office Design Office Fit Out

Photography Credit

Thierry Cardineau

We completed a sustainable retrofit for the RICS Members Lounge at 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham. The project involved refurbishing the 5th floor, with the goal of improving the building’s energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint.

Delivering Sustainable Results

The project significantly improved the building’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating from a baseline of B(39) to B(37). Nearly all the furniture, fixtures, and equipment were reused, minimising the need for new materials. Key features include glazed units and AV solutions to enhance functionality while prioritising sustainability.

A Future-Proof Retrofit

The team recycled all waste, diverting 53.93 tonnes from landfills, resulting in a carbon saving of 196.95 kg CO₂e. The project achieved an embodied carbon value of 73.6 kg CO₂e/m² by reusing materials, significantly lower than industry best practices. This retrofit highlights our commitment to sustainability and innovation.

RICS

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Open-plan teapoint at RICS featuring black chairs, wooden tables, overhead circular lighting, and a seating area with a purple accent wall.

Breakout area at RICS with booth-style seating, round tables, and a feature wall with purple textures, set under modern lighting fixtures.

A breakout and flexible working area at RICS with purple chairs, high stools along a bar-style table, large windows, and a mix of seating options.

Various working areas and enclosed work booths at RICS have cushioned seating, grey panels, wood accents, and individual desk spaces.

Open breakout area at RICS with curved booth seating, round tables, grey chairs, and a textured purple backdrop.

Small, enclosed focus pods at RICS with dark grey seats, wooden frames, and individual lights.

The large digital screen at RICS reception is framed by vertical wooden slats adjacent to a boardroom with grey chairs and a plant feature

Voices

Trump’s Tariffs and What They Mean for Commercial Real Estate

On 2 April 2025, Donald Trump unveiled a dramatic new tariff regime that has left economists and global markets reeling. His reveal included a blanket 10% tariff on all imported goods into the United States, with some product categories and countries facing significantly steeper duties. The move, aimed at reinvigorating domestic manufacturing and rebalancing trade, has already sparked volatility across industries, and while property continues to be a resilient asset class during periods of uncertainty, the commercial real estate sector is not immune.