Client: Foundation Real Estate Unity and Armouries is a transformative Build-to-Rent (BTR) development located in central Birmingham, just south of the city centre near the Gay Village and Chinese Quarter. This project revitalises a formerly disused brownfield site, integrating two distinct buildings: Unity House, a restored 19th-century heritage structure, and a newly built residential tower. The development comprises 162 modern apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, and includes amenities such as co-working spaces, resident lounges, and outdoor communal areas. Designed with sustainability in mind, the development incorporates energy-efficient windows, low-energy lighting, and water-saving fixtures, exceeding current building regulations by 10%. It also reduces its carbon footprint by using sustainable construction methods. Unity and Armouries is a key part of Birmingham's regeneration efforts, contributing new homes and amenities to the city’s vibrant cultural districts. Services we provided Civil & Infrastructure Engineering Environmental & Sustainability Consulting Ground Investigation & Land Quality Mechanical, Electrical & Building Services Structural Engineering Water Engineering & Flood Risk Our Role BWB was appointed to provide a full range of engineering consultancy services for Unity and Armouries, including structural, civil, and mechanical & electrical (M&E) engineering. We collaborated closely with the project’s quantity surveyor and preferred construction partner to ensure that all engineering designs complied with the client’s cost budget and performance requirements. Structural design The structural engineering team managed the novation to the contractor, including evaluating a turnkey lightweight structural frame solution. This approach enabled the project to continue smoothly and achieve the necessary structural depths. Ground expertise Our team also addressed several on-site challenges, including ground obstructions encountered during piling, by conducting multiple site visits to assess and propose alternative solutions. Unexpected ground obstructions during piling works posed a significant challenge. Performance-led design Our M&E team developed a performance-level design, which the contractor further refined. Throughout this phase, BWB remained on the client's side to monitor design progress and installation quality, ensuring the project stayed on track and aligned with the client’s vision.