PROJECT STORY
The challenge
Birmingham’s growing rental market created the opportunity to design a new property just steps away from a world-famous sports stadium.
Corkfield at Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Designing a mixed-use neighborhood
The solution
Arcadis delivered a mixed-use development with generous amenities and sustainable solutions.
The impact
The development is a residential-led project recognized for its quality and sustainability with strong ties to the local community.
375
build to rent apartments
13,800 sq ft
of retail space
40
electric vehicle charging stations
The challenge
Corkfield is a mixed-use development in Birmingham, England, for PATRIZIA that was created in partnership with the neighboring Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC).
Designing a new structure next to a sports stadium that attracts tens of thousands of people yearly is one challenge. But to succeed as a multi-use destination, the development needed to be attractive to both visitors and prospective tenants, meet the client’s ESG and sustainability goals, and become a partner within the community and the larger area.
The solution
PATRIZIA selected Arcadis (formerly CallisonRTKL) to design, project manage, and cost manage Corkfield, a 375-unit multi-story structure beside Edgbaston Stadium, for a diverse demographic during the city’s housing shortage.
In January 2021, the project began on-site with the main contractor, Winvic. Recognizing that tenant requirements had changed post-pandemic, the team worked with the local council to introduce 127 balconies to the scheme that provides additional private amenity space to complement the communal amenity space already provided.
The residence boasts a range of creature comforts, including co-working rooms, a flexible studio, a bicycle store and dog pods. An internal podium garden, designed by local consultant Fira, promotes biodiversity. Top-floor conveniences include a kitchen and dining accommodations, while a rooftop garden encourages outdoor entertaining.
Arcadis carefully crafted Corkfield’s design to augment the neighborhood; with color variation in brick, selected to scale the building and subtle details referencing the local architecture. A lush, landscaped podium is a generous communal amenity for a lifestyle built around wellness. Perforated cladding on the ground floor has a cricket wicket pattern, a subtle reference to the cricket stadium and the thousands of fans who pass through its gates each year.
Sustainability factored extensively into the project’s strategy. Arcadis worked with Cast Living to design warm and livable spaces with carbon-neutral furnishings. Solar panels along the roof support the building’s energy needs. Residents have access to 40 EV charging stations across three parking lots, with room for more. The design also includes a large outdoor garden for residents to enjoy.
Private space in and around the development amounts to thousands of square feet, larger than Birmingham City Centre’s Centenary Square, making the completed project larger than similar-sized venues in the city. The complex also accommodates 13,800 square feet of retail space, offering a mix of home, commercial and leisure capacity.
The impact
Corkfield has been recognized for its positive impact on the city of Birmingham by delivering long-lasting social value, which is a key part of PATRIZIA’s approach to ESG and sustainability.
The project has created numerous job opportunities for unemployed residents, earning Winvic, a community enrichment award for boosting employment. Job fairs, tours of the project site and work placements were also organized to introduce career paths in construction to local students interested in STEM.
PATRIZIA has collaborated closely with WCCC and Midlands Art Centre, earning recognition for its philanthropic support and making a difference in the local community.
Additionally, the project has achieved several certifications and accreditations, including a three-star Home Quality Mark rating, a two-star Fitwel rating, a WiredScore technology certification of Platinum and a Homeview Best build to rent community: Lead to lease journey award. Most apartments and all retail units have been recognized for their energy performance.
