One Centenary Square
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | September 7, 2015 (construction started) |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | HSBC UK (tenant) |
| Products | Office space |
Number of employees | 1000 (approximate HSBC workforce) |
One Centenary Square—previously known as Two Arena Central—is an eleven-floor office building situated on Broad Street, Birmingham, positioned between Alpha Tower and the former headquarters of the Birmingham Municipal Bank. It serves as the UK headquarters for HSBC Bank, accommodating both their personal and commercial banking divisions.
HSBC
In 2015, HSBC Bank completed a forward purchase agreement for the property, securing a 250-year lease intended to consolidate its UK personal and business banking operations. The facility is designed to support a workforce of approximately 1,000 employees. This acquisition represented the largest real estate transaction in Birmingham since 2002.
History of the site
The location's origins trace back to the construction of the Birmingham Canal between 1768 and 1772, which included the Old Wharf basin at the rear of the site. Initially, it was occupied by the Eagle Iron Foundry until 1926, after which the Masonic Hall was established on the premises. This hall was integrated into the Civic Centre masterplan alongside the 1933-built Municipal Bank. During the Second World War, the hall was repurposed by government authorities to serve as offices for the Ministry of Food and Army Recruitment. In the 1970s, it became part of the ATV studios before being demolished in 2006 to allow for development of Arena Central.
Construction
Miller Developments initiated construction with a groundbreaking event on 7 September 2015. The building reached completion in autumn 2018.