AEW to undertake £4.7m refurbishment of Spectrum Building with Building Consultancy by MAPP

MAPP to continue management of the Grade II* listed building.

AEW, the leading global real estate investment and asset manager, is investing £4.7m into the refurbishment of the Spectrum Building, the iconic Grade II listed building in Swindon. The refurbishment will breathe a new lease of life into the Norman Foster-designed building which is renowned as one of the most distinctive examples of the ‘High Tech’ architectural style.

The visually striking 260,000 sq ft property, which was the set for the 1984 James Bond film ‘A View to a Kill’, is managed by MAPP.

Influenced by engineering and new technology, High Tech is a style that accentuates a building’s construction with characteristics such as exposed structures, colourful frames and services (pipes, ducts, lifts etc). The Spectrum building is an early pioneer, with bright yellow tubular masts and arched steel beams, enveloped by a continuous PVC membrane roof, forming a striking silhouette.

The project consists of a roof refurbishment, repair and redecoration of the steel frame and cladding and additional utility provisions to enable multiple occupancy.

MAPP Building Consultancy is project managing the refurbishment and has also appointed ECUS Ecological Consultants to provide guidance during the works and KJ Tait Engineering to provide mechanical and electrical consultancy. Beard Construction are the main contractor and are resourcing the project from their local office in Swindon.

Works are due to complete in May 2024.

“It is a privilege to be playing such an important role in the refurbishment and development of this iconic building on behalf of our investors. Our efforts are focused on ensuring that the historic High Tech character of the Spectrum Building is maintained while increasing its sustainability and creating a truly green asset for the community in Swindon.”

Michael Shears

Director, AEW

“MAPP are very proud and excited to be part of the refurbishment of this historic and architecturally important building. The intense scrutiny on sustainability and the changing way occupiers are interacting with the built environment has made refurbishments such as this even more important.

We are pleased to be working alongside AEW UK in ensuring that this important building remains fit for purpose for its next phase of life.”

To celebrate the commencement of the Spectrum House refurbishment, MAPP and AEW UK rolled up their sleeves and planted a commemorative copse in the grounds. Numerous species of trees were planted to promote biodiversity and foster a thriving ecosystem around the property. We look forward to sharing the progress of this project and our planned ESG initiatives in the near future

Building Consultancy by MAPP provides clients with an ‘in-house’ Building Consultancy service as an extension of the property management service across the UK served by an experienced team based in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.