Applelec LED Light Sheet was specified to bring illumination to the newly renovated office complex, 55 Colmore Row as part of the £30 million refurbishment project of the Grade II listed building.

Nestled in the heart of Birmingham’s bustling business district, 55 Colmore Row operates as a major commercial office accommodation, housing high end organisations, fine dining restaurants and panoramic views of the city from its roof top terrace.
IM Properties worked alongside AHR Architecture and Building Consultancy to carry out the extensive refurbishment work, whose designs created a seamless blend of tradition and technology resulting in the building being awarded a Grade A office and BREEAM Excellent rating for the sought-after address.

As part of the renovation work, the interior of 55 Colmore Row underwent a complete alteration, significantly changing the layout of the building to improve movement around the spaces and create an open, fresh and bright environment.
Upon entering 55 Colmore Row, a dramatic and beautiful reception area is revealed. Set within the grand banking hall, the decorative architecture of the high, ornate ceilings and baroque walls are juxtaposed with stylish, modern lighting design with halo luminaires and architectural lighting schemes.

Delivering an impressive lit feature piece in the heart of the banking hall is the bespoke, illuminated reception desk. Created from Applelec LED Light Sheet, curved light panels were engineered to wrap around the fascia of the desk, achieving a prominent and memorable focal point. Producing powerful and even illumination, the panels were integrated with opal acrylic to soften the light, creating a smooth and gently diffused effect.

Sandi Moolman, Applelec’s architectural specification manager said: ‘The grandeur of 55 Colmore Row’s banking hall demanded a strong centre piece, and the illuminated reception desk certainly achieved this. The design pushed both creative and construction boundaries where precision manufacturing was required to ensure the curved Applelec LED Light Sheet was flawless. Throughout the process, we worked closely with the client to deliver their vision and bring together this unique and striking illuminated statement piece.’

Integrated throughout the banking hall, Applelec LED Light Sheet was used within the state-of-the-art access barriers, adding a high-tech element to the design. As well as this, Applelec LED Light Sheet was used to back illuminate 55 Colmore Row stencil lettering behind the reception desk, creating an elegant logo design.

The refurbishment of 55 Colmore Row has been recognised at the British Council of Office, receiving the Best Refurbished and Best Recycled Workplace award.