Finish line approaches for BT’s new Sheffield base

GMI Construction has reached practical completion on the 65,000 sq ft Endeavour building at Scarborough Group International’s Sheffield Digital Campus, to be wholly occupied by the comms giant.

Endeavour, the final building in the SDC estate close to Sheffield station, features a glazed façade, double-height reception, seven floors of office space, ground floor amenities and a rooftop terrace.

As principal contractor, GMI was supported by architect CJCT, engineering consultant Arup, sustainability advisor Hydrock, cost consultant Burnley Wilson Fish and planner Zerum.

BT will take occupation of the building later this year following completion of its internal fit out, having agreed a 15-year lease towards the end of 2022. The organisation was secured halfway through the speculative build of the scheme.

Adam Varley, development director at SGI, said: “Practical completion at Endeavour marks the final chapter in our 15-year journey at Sheffield Digital Campus and is an achievement that everyone involved can be extremely proud of.

“Building on what is a very tight site in the city centre, the construction process has not been without its challenges, especially given the impact that both COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine has had on the construction of the building but, I am delighted to say that everyone’s collective efforts have resulted in the delivery of Sheffield’s greenest and most significant new build Grade A office building for several years.”

Andrew Hurcomb, divisional managing director, Yorkshire at GMI, added: “This is the culmination of a significant project that has been a cornerstone of our ongoing, successful relationship with SGI, which has seen the delivery of some important Yorkshire schemes, here in Sheffield and across the region.”

The building is EPC-rated A and rated BREEAM Excellent. Features include an all-electric energy system, LED lighting, floor to ceiling glazing, increased ventilation filtration, 7:10 EV car parking ratio and 78 cycle spaces, along with dedicated club-class style changing and shower facilities.

Moving to Endeavour is part of BT’s nationwide Better Workplace programme, which also includes consolidations into new space at Salford’s New Bailey and Bristol’s Assembly new-builds.

SDC as a whole provides around 243,000 sq ft of workspace.

Practical completion has now been achieved. Credit: Place North

Varley concluded: “Securing BT as a tenant mid-way through the speculative construction of the building was a fantastic achievement and is testament to the development’s outstanding credentials, not to mention the strength of Sheffield’s professional services sector in helping to attract and retain major employers.”

The building was funded via a joint venture agreement between SGI and Metro Holdings of Singapore, supported by a £4m mezzanine loan from the SCR Jessica Fund alongside a £10m senior loan from The South Yorkshire Pension Fund, both of which are managed by CBRE Capital Advisors.

Scarborough Group now turns its full attention in the city to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, where it is seeking to build out up to 1m sq ft of commercial space around the former Don Valley stadium. The goal is to create the North’s leading life sciences innovation ecosystem focused on sport and the health and wellbeing sectors.

The park’s new Community Stadium and Landing Pad serviced offices are now fully operational and  the group intends to submit plans for the next phase of development in the coming months.