Burges Salmon has committed to extending and renewing the lease of its Bristol headquarters in what is understood to be the largest office letting ever completed in the city.
The independent UK law firm has agreed with building owner Mapletree to take the entire 216,172 sq ft building at One Glass Wharf until 2045.
Mapletree will undertake a ‘multi-million-pound refurbishment’ of One Glass Wharf as part of the deal.
The works, which will start later this year, are expected to deliver significant sustainability and environmental enhancements and major improvements to the building’s amenities.
Burges Salmon has had its Bristol headquarters at One Glass Wharf since 2010, previously occupying 174,607 sq ft.
Roger Bull, managing partner at Burges Salmon, said: “Our decision to extend our occupation at One Glass Wharf until 2045 reflects the growing demand for ‘offices of the future’ as businesses rethink how they bring people together.
“Alongside our existing projects in Edinburgh and London, the deal we have struck in Bristol with Mapletree demonstrates our belief that collaborative working is most productive for both our clients and our people, and we are expanding our office HQ to support the future success of our firm.
“We’re proud to be a major employer in Bristol and One Glass Wharf is a unique ecosystem where our people enjoy spending time, with spaces designed to champion wellbeing, innovation and connection, support hybrid working and help our community engagement initiatives.
“The extensive upgrade will deliver an even better working environment for all who experience it, strengthening the firm’s culture of collaboration and high-quality client service.”
Emma Dowden, Burges Salmon’s chief operating officer, added: “One Glass Wharf offers a space that is truly fit for the future.
“Its strong green credentials align closely with the ambitions of our Carbon Reduction Plan, ensuring we continue to invest in spaces and technologies that support our sustainability goals while delivering the best possible experience for our people and clients.”
Rory Carson, director, asset management for UK & Ireland, Mapletree, said: “This deal demonstrates the remarkable benefits of finding alignment between owners and occupiers of office buildings.
“The regear at One Glass Wharf allows us not only to invest in future-proofing the building through comprehensive upgrades to its operational sustainability, sense of arrival and staff amenity, but also to retain the embodied carbon in the existing building.
“The close collaboration between Burges Salmon and Mapletree when designing the upgrades and specifying the works means that our investment will deliver a headquarters that Burges Salmon can be proud to call home for years to come, as the firm continues to flourish.”
Burges Salmon was advised by Savills and Mapletree by JLL.
Image: Burges Salmon
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