Belfast Harbour Appoints CBRE to manage City Quays 1
Belfast Harbour has appointed commercial property consulants, CBRE, to manage Belfast Harbour’s new office development, City Quays 1.
City Quays 1 is part of the wider City Quays scheme, a 20-acre office-led, waterfront regeneration scheme funded by Belfast Harbour.
The 84,000 sq ft building, which is widely regarded as the most prestigious office block in Belfast, comes after a £10 million investment by Belfast Harbour and will be the only new office built in Belfast in 2015.
Already confirmed as the future home to the world’s largest law firm, Baker and McKenzie, the office will provide much-needed Grade A office space. It is seen as a key property and the first major step in addressing the shortage of high-end office space as highlighted in the CBRE Outlook 2015.
Gerard McCann, Head of Asset Services, CBRE Belfast said:
“We are delighted to have won the contract to manage a building that will play a significant role in leading the way for Grade A office development in Belfast. It is our intention to ensure that City Quays 1 will be managed to the superior standards befitting a premier location for blue chip companies seeking top tier office accommodation in Northern Ireland. We will be rolling out a suite of concierge services unique in Northern Ireland to ensure that every need is met on behalf of occupiers. With the prospect of continued foreign direct investment, the successful management of such an important asset such as City Quays 1, is essential to the future development of Northern Ireland as a target destination for companies on a global scale”.
City Quays 1 has been developed to high sustainability standards, achieving BREEAM Excellent status meaning tenant operating costs are 25% lower than average. It also boasts flexible floor plates and the fastest, most resilient data connection to the US and Europe.
Graeme Johnston, Property Director, Belfast Harbour, commented:
“CBRE stood out during the assessment process due to their wide range of applicable experience, knowledge of occupier needs and the ability to underpin our sustainability credentials. We aim to be market leading in everything that we do and this appointment will support us in delivering best in class facilities for our tenants.
CBRE has a global reputation for managing superior built assets around the world. It was recently appointed to the Cube in Birmingham – an addition to CBRE’s Premier Properties programme, its bespoke asset management service. The portfolio also includes the Shanghai Tower, the Iberdrola Tower in Bilbao and The Gherkin in London.
Mr McCann continued:
“CBRE has the necessary global and best practice experience to ensure that City Quays 1 is in good hands. There is real quality and potential to this building with its sustainability credentials and we would like to see it become the first NI addition to CBRE’s Premier Properties Programme, our bespoke asset management service.”
