Willmott Dixon has been selected by Sheffield City Council to deliver the £14.4m transformation of Event Central, a landmark project that will repurpose a former retail building on Fargate into a cutting-edge music venue and collaborative workspace.
The project involves substantial structural alterations to create a new atrium spanning from ground to first floor, comprehensive strengthening works to accommodate revised loadings, façade reimagining, and complete fit-out of both music venue and workspace elements.
Work is scheduled to begin by the end of August, with the transformed venue featuring a 200-person live event space and café/bar area on the ground floor, plus four upper floors dedicated to co-working space and meeting rooms. The venue will host community events, showcases, exhibitions, workshops and talks once complete.
Located in the heart of Fargate, the project represents a significant investment in Sheffield's city centre regeneration, building on the success of venues like Cambridge Street Collective and Leah's Yard.
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon: "Our local team of regeneration experts bring a wealth of experience to Event Central and we're delighted to play our part in the regeneration of Fargate, creating a space designed to empower this city's boundless creativity.
"We will ensure creating opportunities for the local community is at the heart of this project. Willmott Dixon, alongside its supply chain partners, is set to deliver 300 hours of employment support to residents, creating two new employment opportunities for local people who are not in education, employment or training. We will also support 75 weeks of apprenticeship training for young people and volunteer upwards of 150 hours in support of local organisations."
The company has already begun community engagement, working with FoodCycle Sheffield, Hillsborough Job Centre and Opportunity Sheffield, and engaging with students at Notre Dame High School and Sheffield Springs Academy.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council: "Sheffield is home to some legendary venues, known across the country and we want Event Central to be added to that list. The transformation of the building into this fantastic space will take place right before people's eyes and will cap off the end of the regeneration of Fargate."
This latest contract adds to Willmott Dixon's growing portfolio of high street repurposing projects, demonstrating the company's expertise in transforming redundant retail spaces into vibrant community assets.
