Work on a large carbon-eating mural has got underway as the winning design is unveiled.
The £3.5m transformation of Nelson Gate in Southampton into The Bulb began on Tuesday.
A ‘clean air’ mural is being painted on the building to help tackle pollution in the city.
Members of the public were invited to choose their favourite design for the building.
After three weeks and over 10,000 votes cast, the winning mural design has been revealed by FI Real Estate Management, the company behind the project.
Three designs for the giant ‘clean air’ mural had been shortlisted - with FI Real Estate inviting the nation to vote for the artwork - which can now be revealed as Mural 2.
Tim Knowles, founder of the company said: “We are truly excited about The Bulb – not least the fact that we’re offering everyone the chance to have a say in how this iconic landmark will look.
“We feel ‘The Bulb’ is a valuable addition to the Southampton office market, and its central location makes it ideal for companies working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to attract the fantastic talent pool in the city and beyond.”
READ MORE: Huge carbon-eating mural set to be painted on building undergoing £4m revamp
The 1,005 square metre mural will be created by French street artist Nerone using Graphenstone C02 absorption paint.
It is estimated that the annual amount of CO2 absorbed by The Bulb mural each year will be around 65kg per year - equivalent to three mature adult trees.
Nerone started work on the mural on April 11, with the project estimated to take around three weeks to complete.
The artist is appealing to the art community to get involved - not only assisting him in the creation of the mural, but also to take part in the art workshops taking place during his residency.
Ryan Barber, head of office at FI Real Estate Management, said: “STEM jobs are growing faster than any other job sector and are projected to continue to do so.
“We believe creating a STEM-led development in Southampton is key to bringing like-minded businesses together - providing a focal point for technology-driven collaboration and fostering a culture of innovation.”
The Bulb, adjacent to Southampton Central railway station, is set to offer 155,000 square feet of new workspace.
It will feature exposed ceilings, LED lighting and Bluetooth-controlled air conditioning.
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