One of the few speculative development schemes to come into the market over the past 12 months anywhere in the region has scooped the top gong at a prestigious national awards.

Eleven Brindleyplace, designed by Glenn Howells and developed by Argent, was voted ‘best of the best’ workplace by the British Council of Offices at its annual awards in London.

The 12-storey building was only completed at the end of last year and has already secured a number of key occupiers including Colliers International - which has just taken additional space after growing by a third since its move, Friend LLP, the Institute of Directors West Midlands, recruitment firm Robert Walters and Argent themselves.

James Heather, project director of Argent who collected the award, said: “Eleven Brindleyplace is our last office building at Brindleyplace and this award is a fantastic accolade to complete the development.

“Our aim was to create a distinctive building and to add a new dimension to work space on the estate.

“Through the dedication, talent and determination of our design and project team, we achieved this and this award is great recognition of that accomplishment.

“Designed from the outset as a multi let building with great shared communal space, Eleven Brindleyplace has successfully combined the best quality design with efficient functionality.

“It is one of Birmingham’s first completed BREEAM Excellent buildings and we worked hard to create a flexible building that differentiated itself in the marketplace. We are extremely proud to have won this award for Eleven Brindleyplace.”

Designed by Birmingham architects Glenn Howells Architects, the building provides 107,000 sq ft of flexible office space, a unique Meetingspace concept complete with business lounge and Nuvo, a recently opened split-level lounge bar.

Architect Glenn Howells, who is also working with Argent on its plans for Paradise Circus in Birmingham, said: “Working with Argent and the rest of the project team to deliver the last building at the Brindleyplace estate has been a terrific experience.

“The process of developing a successful, flexible and architecturally strong building is testament to the team’s enthusiasm and commitment to the project.

“The building is not only a carefully crafted exterior, it also provides intelligent low energy environmental design, excellent working space and a different model for multi occupancy offices that has already attracted high calibre companies. For Eleven Brindleyplace to be awarded best office building in the country is an amazing success for the design team, Argent and indeed Birmingham.”

BCO Awards chairman John Forrester said: “Eleven Brindleyplace sets an impressive benchmark for new office development not only in the Midlands but nationally.

“It is undoubtedly a standout project and its success is down to the integrity of the design and strength of partnership between Argent and Glenn Howells.”

Eleven Brindleyplace is the second office building at Brindleyplace to win the coveted award of Best of the Best, following on from Four Brindleyplace which won in 2000.

The Eleven Brindleyplace project team included Glenn Howells Architects, Faithful and Gould, Arup and BAM Design and Construction. Letting agents for the building are GVA Grimley and GBR Phoenix Beard.