The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), the oldest surgical college in the world with a network of more than 32,000 professionals in over 140 countries, is to relocate its Birmingham office from Colmore Row to the Walker Building in Digbeth which is owned and has been redeveloped by Hartwell, the automotive and property development company.
The Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street, is two interconnected Grade II listed former factory buildings which were built in 1911 for nautical instrument inventors Thomas Walker & Son. The building totals 19,912 sq ft (1,850 sq m).
The RCSEd has leased units A1 and A3 which total 3,913 sq ft (363 sq m).
They will join current Walker Building media tenants Clearcut and Spungold together with The Federation of Groundwork Trusts which provides vital support to communities and businesses.
The Walker Building is less than ten minutes’ walk from the Bullring, Grand Central and nearby Moor Street station, along with the new HS2 Curzon Street station and Midland Metro tram line which connects to Wolverhampton.
The district has vibrant cafes, independent shops, cinemas, arts and film production studios together with the regeneration of Typhoo Wharf which is now under construction and soon to be the home to the BBC’s new Birmingham headquarters.
Joanne Churchill, group property manger, Hartwell Plc said: “We warmly welcome RCSEd to our Walker Building in Digbeth. We have invested to extensively refurbish the Walker Building to bring it into the 21st century to work for those companies seeking the exciting vibrancy and connected location that is Digbeth while needing efficient and stunning workspace in a central location. Digbeth is booming and the RCSEd will no doubt continue to successfully serve its members from their new home and continue their pioneering work. We are committed to Digbeth’s continuing regeneration and have future nearby projects underway which will continue to boost this district.”
Rowan Parks, president, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said: “I am delighted that we have secured a lease on this historic building in Birmingham. The majority of our UK members are based in England and this location provides a key hub for our expanding number of activities and events. We are committed to serving our members in England and to providing examinations and courses for those starting out in their clinical careers. This expansion in Birmingham is an important part of our strategy and we are proud to be locating to this important area of regeneration for the city.”
Andy Riach, director office leasing, Lambert Smith Hampton added: “The letting to RCSEd serves to demonstrate Digbeth’s strong appeal to an increasingly wide variety of occupiers. Currently, there is a high demand for office space in Digbeth but a lack of office supply as many schemes are converted to alternative uses. This trend reflects the thriving creative atmosphere and connectivity that Digbeth offers, making it an attractive location for companies seeking to retain and attract top talent. The strong demand for Digbeth office space highlights the importance of creating and maintaining a dynamic work environment for employees.”
Lambert Smith Hampton and JLL are the commercial leasing agents; JLL acted on behalf of RCSEd.
The terms of the deal are confidential.
