The first building of a new development at Birmingham Science Park will be a £1 million ‘living lab’ showcasing the latest in communications technology.

As the first building in the proposed £35 million Digital Plaza, the ground floor of the 30,0000 sq ft, three-storey iCentrumTMbuilding will house a unique collection of initiatives designed by the project architects and Cisco.

According to the science park, these will include immersive TelePresence video communication, expert mentoring platforms, personalised digital screens, virtual mConcierge, remote expert, avatars, flex space and the newly unveiled StyleMe mirror.

Dr David Hardman MBE, CEO of Birmingham Science Park, said: “We have always set-out to make Birmingham Science Park’s iCentrumTM the best building of its kind across Europe and hopefully beyond. This hugely exciting partnership with Cisco will take our vision into a reality.

“iCentrumTM has been designed for the latest technology and applications that catalyse innovation. However, any building that is brand new can make claims to being the best and the cleverest, but for how long? This partnership with Cisco is a long-term commitment from a leading global technology giant to ensure Birmingham’s iCentrumTM building will continue to be furnished with the latest technological installations, beyond the first wave.

“This is a significant coup for Birmingham, as it promotes itself as a leading Smart and connected digital city. For Birmingham Science Park, such an exciting, collaborative environment will offer new opportunities and stimulation to the burgeoning community of tech entrepreneurs that we are nurturing here.”