Make a corporate statement

Jan 30 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

The development of high quality office schemes across the region shows just how important buildings can be for corporate image and all-round business efficiency say Paul Nicholson and Aidan Baker

TOWARDS the end of 2006, the British Council for Offices ran the National Good Office Week. At the time the council said that about 60% of the UK’s population works in some form of office and as a nation we are using corporate workspace more and more.

Put simply, professional companies now generally feel they cannot thrive in out-dated office space – the desire is now to demonstrate a presence, and show success through a work space that impresses clients.

This is important both in terms of usefulness and location and, most importantly, attracting and retaining quality staff.

The development of instant communications means that regions such as the North-East can vie with any region in the country to attract footloose office inquiries, certainly as the other essentials for running a business up here are in place – international airports, good rail links and road network and of course a choice of excellent city centre and out-of-town office schemes.

It is the market which has driven the need for excellence in design with large floor-plates now an essential part of modern corporate life. And the style of a building reflects on the occupiers, as it can indicate success, which can then breed further success.

Examples of offices which bring forward best practice in the provision of outstanding space range from Teesdale on Teesside, to Doxford International in Sunderland, Cobalt in North Tyneside, the Quayside, St James’s Boulevard and, most recently, Gallowgate in Newcastle.

Many buildings here make powerful corporate statements. There is more to come through to the market this year and into next. For example, the East Quay 5 building on Quayside will be a landmark building and Regent Point in Gosforth will provide 100,000sqft over floor-plates of around 25,000sqft each.

It is large, well thought-out floor-plates that allow occupiers a wide choice of layouts to accommodate the different functions of a business. We are also seeing new offices being developed to cater for small to medium-sized businesses.

Paul Nicholson and Aidan Baker work in the agency team at Atisreal in Newcastle.

PAGE TWO: Occupation at five-year high