This is the first glimpse of what Leicester's Blue Tower will look like following a long-awaited paint job.
The artist's impression, right, shows the 22-storey landmark building after being repainted a darker shade of blue.
Middlesex-based investors James Boyle and Steven Gardner vowed to tone down the building when they bought it from the Irish government in a £6.5 million deal earlier this year.
The controversial current electric blue paint job was carried out seven years ago by a previous owner.
Mr Boyle said the repainting project, together with repair work on the outside concrete, would cost more than £100,000 and be completed by September. Initial repair work is already underway.
"It's basically going to be painted dark blue," he said. "We had a palette of different colours. However, we think a dark blue is attractive because it's a more professional and serious look. It doesn't offend anyone."
Teaching company Study Group has signed a 25-year lease to occupy a large part of the 269ft building for teaching and student accommodation, while the owners are also looking to attract other potential users to the St George's Way site.
The site is also home to a 135-room Premier Inn.
Coloured window panels, combined with the electric blue paint, led to the tower being dubbed the "Connect 4 Building", after the colourful puzzle game.
Those panels will now be replaced.
The Mercury asked businesses close to the tower for their views on the artist's impression.
Amir Mossad, owner of Grosseto Pizzeria, on the corner of Granby Street and East Street, said: "It looks better. If it makes the area look smarter, it's good for business."
Zuber Omari, owner of Bling Phones and Accessories, in Granby Street, said: "I think it looks a bit dull. It doesn't stand out as much as it does at the moment.
"We are already in a dull area. We need to brighten the place up. This is the gateway to Leicester."
Himmat Jogia, owner of Universal Time, also in Granby Street, said: "It's better, but I'd like to see a different colour because it's too similar to what it is now. I would like to see it painted cream. It's been blue for so many years."
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I welcome what they are doing to try to make it look a more sophisticated colour.
"I'm very much hoping the finished effect will be a credit to them and the city.
"People objected to the fact the previous owners chose a particularly vivid blue and badly painted it – it was so blotchy."
The deal with Study Group will see the top 10 floors of the converted into 165 rooms for overseas undergraduates, with other floors providing space for classes.
Mr Boyle also said Premier Inn, which has its hotel in the bottom half of the tower, was interested in expanding.
The complex also contains a shisha cafe and 24 flats.
The building was last painted in 2007 when it was owned by Magnet Property Investments. The tower was repossessed by the Anglo Irish Bank in 2009, before it was taken over by the Irish government after suffering financial problems.
![Leicester's 'Blue Tower' to get a new, more sophisticated paint job]( "Leicester's 'Blue Tower' to get a new, more sophisticated paint job")
