Plans have been lodged to refurbish an unloved city office building overlooking the Paradise scheme.
Civic House is being restored ahead of wider work expected across the Great Charles Street Estate.
The building, which is currently entirely vacant, will be transformed into plush offices to let out 80,000 sq ft of space.
It kicks off work on the wider estate which was bought for £20 million last year and occupies a prominent space opposite the Paradise development.
The proposals, designed by Birmingham practice Associated Architects, include a coffee shop at ground floor level and would see the 121ft building reclad with ribbed terracotta, as well as more mirrors and less concrete to offer views over Paradise.
The planning document states: "From the Paradise design proposals, including the Chamberlain Square views presented by the Paradise team, it is obvious that Civic House will become more prominent.
"It will certainly become the focus and gateway building for the Great Charles Street Estate."
The 11-storey Civic House is one of seven buildings within the Great Charles Street Estate, all of which were bought by AG Dunedin at the end of last year.
The firm intends to refurbish and upgrade four existing offices buildings with Lombard House, Charles House and 154/155 Great Charles Street to follow Civic House.
In all, the estate offers more than 300,000 sq ft of space and plans will be worked up to offer a mix of residential, office, retail and leisure opportunities.
Central to its attraction are plans to pedestrianise swathes of Great Charles Street, cutting what has become known as the "concrete collar".
The application states: "The Paradise Circus redevelopment will thankfully open up pedestrian routes within and across this part of the city - all of which have long been burdened by the concrete collar created by the implementation of the 1960s ring road with its dual carriageway, retaining walls and other such barriers.
"This will therefore significantly improve both visual and physical connectivity between the city centre and Great Charles Street and to the Jewellery Quarter beyond."
Civic House was designed by Scott Brownrigg and Turner and built in 1981 but has been vacant since April.
The proposals include relocating the main building entrance, as well as new windows and curtain walling installed throughout.
