Global engineering and consultancy firm Arup has announced plans to move its 450-strong Bristol workforce into new state-of-the-art offices in the city.
The company confirmed it would take the entire 27,377 sq ft second floor of CEG’s EQ development at 111 Victoria Street on a 10-year lease.
Arup, which said its staff would move into the building in the summer of 2023, have been based in Bristol city centre for more than 45 years.
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Austin Smith, Arup’s Bristol office leader, said EQ’s public, private, and shared spaces, along with its "capacity to bring all the firm's employees together" on a single floor, "complemented" the company's approach to working.
He also said it was "important" the new office allowed staff to continue commuting in a sustainable way.
“It was important that our new home’s location and facilities continue to enable our staff to have the option to walk, cycle or use public transport to travel to the office," he said.
"Investing in additional cycle parking capacity and remaining in Redcliffe means that our staff can continue to commute sustainably.”
Arup said it was attracted by the location, flexibility and wellbeing credentials of the building, as well as CEG’s Let Ready studio concept, which provides fully equipped studio space on flexible leases for additional project work.
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The EQ building has 20,000 sq ft of facilities including a rooftop bar; restaurant and business lounge with communal terrace; ground-floor café-kitchen; 50-seat auditorium; a fitness suite; and break-out collaborative space.
Once built, there will also be a dedicated bicycle entrance and ramp from Temple Street to the basement with more than 260 cycle spaces, as well as electric e-bike charging points and changing and shower facilities.
When construction on the 200,000 sq ft development began a year ago, it was the largest speculative development underway in the South of England. Since then, it has also become Bristol’s first new-build office to target 'Carbon Net Zero in Operation' in accordance with the 海角视频 Green Building Council’s (海角视频GBC) framework approach.
Designed to meet BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A sustainability credentials, EQ will be powered by renewable energy, which will be sourced through a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) contract. There will be photovoltaic units on the roof, as well as connection to Bristol City Council’s District Heating Network.
Some 2,000 litres of water per occupant will also be saved each year through the building’s rainwater recycling features, according to Arup.
Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG, added: “EQ rethinks contemporary office design. Our low-carbon approach is embedded in everything we do, from the design and operation to the health and wellbeing of those who will work here. Arup’s decision to locate its West of England office here is testament to the quality and sustainability credentials of this flagship building.”
JLL and Cushman and Wakefield have been appointed by CEG to market the building.
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