A Grade II-listed Victorian office building in Liverpool city centre is to house a new food and drink venue and offer 12,500 sq ft of refurbished office space. Tony McDonough reports
Property firm Bruntwood is to start work creating space for a new food and drink venue in a Grade II-listed 19th century office building in Liverpool city centre.
Exchange Court is on the corner of Exchange Flags and Dale Street and is just yards from Liverpool Town Hall. Until recently the 62,000 sq ft building housed a branch of Royal Bank of Scotland.
In 2020 owner Bruntwood completed a refurbishment of two floors of the building, creating nine new office suites. Now it is to refurbish a further 12,500 sq ft of office space and convert the ground floor banking hall into a hospitality venue.
It has secured planning approval for the project from Liverpool City Council renovation works will begin towards the end of April with completion due for autumn 2024.
Andrew Butterworth, commercial director at Bruntwood, said: “Having received planning approval, we are now one step closer to realising our vision for Exchange Court.
“Harnessing the building’s heritage and history has been a key focus in creating a fit for future workspace where people can come together and flourish.
“We’re dedicated to delivering inspirational, flexible workspaces for customers of all sizes, from SMEs to large businesses, that are focused on creating a perfect blend between work and wellbeing.”
Originally created as the headquarters for Liverpool and London Globe Insurance in 1856, Exchange Court was designed by Charles Robert Cockerell, who also commissioned the city’s Bank of England building.
An Italian-style building, which was influenced by the design of the Palazzo Corner in Venice, Exchange Court most recently was home to the Royal Bank of Scotland, who occupied half the building until 2022.
Bruntwood says it will utilise a “circular economy approach” throughout the works, using recycled furniture and materials.
Certain features will remain untouched to save the buildings’ historic value including high-quality stone carvings, decorative iron balconettes and an original marble fireplace.
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The ground and first floor redesign will create nine new office suites ranging from 966 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft of fitted-out workspace ready for immediate occupation.
Bruntwood is on the hunt for a sole hospitably partner to operate the hospitality space, which will service footfall from both Exchange Court and visitors to the city.