Ramboll signs lease on flagship sustainable Twenty3 Southampton office

Global engineering, architecture and consultancy company Ramboll has pre-let the ground floor at a flagship green building in Southampton city centre, signing a 10-year lease commitment.

The business will be the first in Twenty3 Brunswick Place following a comprehensive refurbishment, with four remaining upper floors to let from 13,000 sq ft to 52,345 sq ft.

Fidelity UK Real Estate Fund, a fund operated by Fidelity International, one of the UK’s largest investment managers, is landlord.

As a sustainable society consultant, a critical component for Ramboll’s new Southampton base was high sustainability credentials.

The building is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating thanks to carbon-cutting energy efficiencies.

With low running costs for occupiers, Twenty3 has the best environmental and sustainability credentials of any office in the port city, which is home to a workforce of 132,000.

Founded in Denmark in 1945, Ramboll has 16,000 experts creating sustainable solutions across buildings, transport, water, environment, health, architecture, landscape, energy and management consulting.

Ewan Montgomery, Portfolio Manager, UK Real Estate, Fidelity International, said: “The Fidelity UK Real Estate Fund has a strategy to wherever possible create the most efficient and sustainable workspaces by investing in the property it holds.

“Twenty3 in Southampton is our latest and most ambitious project yet. Completing the pre-let to Ramboll is a clear demonstration that this strategy delivers the very best tenants who have sustainability at the core of what they do.”

Philippa Spence, UK Managing Director, Ramboll, said: “Our new South Coast base at Twenty3 aligns with our ambitions for our offices of the future, which include reducing the carbon impact of our operations and creating spaces that support our flexible ways of working and the wellbeing of our employees.

“Twenty3’s city centre location, with its public transport connections, supports low-carbon commuting, while the building itself helps us to reduce our carbon impact.

“Our fit-out is similarly environmentally conscious, and the design prioritises collaboration, flexibility and mental wellbeing.

“We are really excited to move into Twenty3, an inspirational space that will help our people flourish and deliver solutions for society that make a genuine difference.”

Southampton-based Russell Mogridge of Vail Williams, the scheme’s joint agent said: “It is no surprise such a reputable professional services company has signed up to move into Twenty3, with its green credentials, central location and short distance to the train station, shops and restaurants”

Emma Lockey, CBRE Southampton, joint agent, said: “The moment Ramboll viewed the property and saw our client’s vision for it, they saw the potential for it to be their new regional base.”

There are a number of “seriously interested parties considering the building”, Mr Mogridge added.

Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry, Leader of Southampton City Council, who attended a recent topping out ceremony of an extra floor, said: “It’s great to see our city centre offices coming back to life, with Fidelity’s Twenty3 a clear draw for companies because of the green credentials and location.”

Fit-out and refurbishment contractor is ITC; architects are Spratley & Partners.  

Twenty3 includes 49 car park spaces, with six electric vehicle charging points, and 62 cycle spaces.

Building completion is anticipated in Spring 2022.