Construction works on the new eye-catching modern office development i9 have started following a period of site enabling works.

i9 is set in the heart of the City of Wolverhampton Interchange and emerged as a scheme following the success of the award-winning i10 complex on the opposite side of Railway Drive.

It will provide up to 52,000 sq ft of stunning Grade A office space, has potential for 5,600 sq ft of leisure space for restaurants, and is planned for completion in 2021.

i9 is the next step in building a thriving commercial quarter at the heart of Wolverhampton Interchange - bringing further investment and jobs to the city.

City of Wolverhampton Council and leading property developer, Ion, selected Glenn Howells Architects’ design for i9 as the winner from a strong field of ten UK leading architects and urban design practices in a national design competition.

They are the architects behind the Paradise Birmingham scheme - one of the biggest city centre development projects in the UK.

Councillor Harman Banger, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “It is great news to see full works starting on the spectacular i9 building at heart of the city’s Interchange. It is another step towards our aspirations of creating a Commercial District in this area of the city. We want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre. This important site ideally lends itself to a distinctive, high-quality headquarters building.”

The design has drawn influence from Wolverhampton’s family of red-brick Victorian buildings - providing a complementary, contemporary addition fit for 21st century working life.

It is set to house restaurants within the ground floor of the building as well as a rooftop amenity space, with panoramic views towards the city centre conservation area and Interchange.

GRAHAM, have been contracted to deliver the scheme, and will target a BREEAM Excellent rating to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the building and lower any potential impact on the surrounding environment.

Ion Managing Director, Steve Parry, added: “This marks a further milestone in the regeneration of Wolverhampton city centre. By creating a Grade A office building of the highest standard, it will enable Wolverhampton to compete with other major cities across the UK for the provision of workspace. Building upon the success of i10 and the transport links created by the Interchange, we anticipate that i9 will create further growth in the office sector, benefitting the city as a whole.”

GRAHAM Regional Director, Ronan Hughes, said: “Wolverhampton is undergoing a period of regeneration that is set to transform the city and attract further investment and jobs to the area. We are therefore pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor on i9 – a significant new building that benefits from a prime location and high-spec office facilities. We look forward to working with the wider project team to deliver this new, sustainable commercial development for the city.”