The New Building

Project Gateway is a landmark building marking the Western ‘gateway’ to the Jewellery Quarter and St George’s masterplan.The proposed development has been designed to respond to its location on this key frontage in the Jewellery Quarter, and respect its siting within the Conservation Area.

The new building will be 2-3 storeys high and will extend to circa 4,800 sq m.The environmentally friendly building includes a stepped and rotating front facade culminating in a double height ‘portico’ structure that addresses the neighbouring Kettleworks opposite. The building steps down to 2 storeys along Pope Street and Moreton Street whilst maintaining its rhythm, character and civic presence at each corner.

Brick and pigmented concrete piers rise from the ground and frame full height glazing to all floors while a horizontal ‘string’ course marks the rising floor levels of the building. Windows are set
back, deep within the facade, in order to reduce solar gain and emphases the buildings verticality.

The scheme will include an active mix of current Assay Office uses as well as providing substantial conference and cultural spaces that can exhibit current & historical material of Birmingham and the Jewellery Quarter.

A new multi-storey car park is to be provided within the wider St George‘s development and it is intended that this will provide off street parking for Assay Office staff and the public. Visitors to the Assay Office will use existing on street parking and the new parking facility, which is in close proximity to the new building. A lay-by is proposed on Moreton Street to provide a drop off facility for customers. Public access to the building will be from Icknield Street frontage.

All the existing facilities in the current Assay Office building, including the hallmarking operations, laboratories, gem certification and jewellery valuation services will be relocated to the new development. In addition, the new building will also contain training, meeting and conference facilities. A public exhibition area to showcase the Assay Office’s Silver Collection, including the Matthew Boulton Collection, will also be created.

Upon completion of the new Assay Office facility, the existing premises and car park will be brought to market for disposal. Discussions are underway with the City Council and other stakeholders as to the most appropriate future uses for the premises, respecting its heritage and
Listed status.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
• Exhibition feedback and comments collated and considered
• Continued liaison with Birmingham City Council
• Planning Application submitted to Birmingham City Council by end of 2011
• Consideration of application March 2012
• Development starts on site Summer 2012
• Open for business during 2013.
• Invited feedback to - assayoffice@turleyassociates.co.uk

"The Assay Office is our people, not our building. Our people are the best and we must give them the best. We are proud of our innovation, our integrity and our independence and we believe these will flourish even more successfully in an Assay Office fit for the future. We want to create a world class Centre of Excellence of which Birmingham can be proud. Our objective is that by 2013 we will be ready to face the next 100 years in a new building which is cleaner, greener and more accessible to everyone, and which fully reflects our heritage, our status and our ambition” (Kay Alexander, Chairman of the Assay Office)

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