Welcome Building®, a 207,000 sq ft new workspace for Bristol, delivered in a joint venture between EPISO 5, a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners, and Trammell Crow Company (TCC), a leading commercial real estate developer, has today opened its doors. Offering the largest, flexible floorplates in the city, it now takes its place as one of the most sustainable and wellbeing focused workspaces in Bristol. This milestone marks TCC’s first office building in Europe, underscoring the company’s expansion and commitment to delivering quality workspaces in the region.
The building has already attracted a world class occupier, signing up international law firm DAC Beachcroft as the first tenant. One of the largest legal sector employers in the South West with over 800 lawyers and staff working in the region, it will be moving its Bristol colleagues to 44,865 sq ft across levels six and seven at Welcome Building® later this year. Further discussions are underway with several other potential occupiers.
Welcome Building® was designed by Darling Associates Architects, and constructed by Wates, to create a landmark in the city centre, an exemplar for sustainability, wellness and operational efficiency. The floorplates range from 22,000 sq ft to 30,000 sq ft, all reconfigurable to suit different requirements and the changing patterns of working life.
A standout feature of the building is a unique ‘street’ on the ground floor, a huge lobby area with a café bar, breakout seating areas, touch-down workspace, events space and specially commissioned public art by Dorcas Casey. It has been designed with a homely, hotel quality feel to create an inclusive, collaborative community in a vibrant hub that draws both the occupiers from around the building and the local business community.
A smart building with WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Gold certifications, Welcome Building® is highly sustainable, one of only three buildings in Bristol to have achieved a NABERS Design for Performance Target Rating of 5 Stars. It is all-electric, with PV cells on the roof and will be Net Zero Carbon in operation. It also sets new standards for occupier wellbeing as the first Bristol office development to target Well Platinum Certification, alongside BREEAM Outstanding and Five at Heart Platinum, with consideration given to everything from biodiversity to the enhanced end of trip facilities for cyclists, runners, and in-house wellness studio users.
The building is connected to the Bristol Heat Network, from which it will extract all of its heat load. This naturally sourced and low carbon heat is procured from the zero-carbon water source heat pump at Castle Park energy centre resulting in no polluting combustion.
Toby Pentecost, Senior Vice President and head of UK offices at Trammell Crow Company commented: “Welcome Building® is our first completed office development in Europe and is a major milestone for TCC as we continue to increase our footprint in the region. It is an exemplar development providing high-quality, ESG focused workspace in a thriving part of the city centre. This building sets a new bar for sustainability in Bristol and boasts an exceptional location with great amenities and connectivity. With some space still available and a shortage of large floorplates in the city, we are experiencing high demand and look forward to making another letting announcement very soon.”
Mark Craig, Regional Managing Director for the South at Wates Group said: “Welcome Building® represents our commitment to reimagining places for people to thrive. Designed as a climate-friendly, user-focused, and inclusive office space for Bristol, not only is this landmark project truly sustainable but it delivers meaningful impact on the local community, setting a new standard for development in the city.”
Chris Darling, Founder and Chair, Darling Associates Architects, added: “The Welcome Building® project gave us the opportunity to design an exemplary workplace that would push the boundaries forwards in terms of offices design. In our approach we have prioritised attracting people back into an office environment post pandemic, and have sought to create a low carbon building that provides a sense of community, ownership and belonging – we have for example provided cafes, pop ups, a town hall, yoga, contemplative space, a fitness studio and so on.”
Welcome Building® has already been shortlisted for two awards, including Development of the year at the Props Awards 2025 and Green Building of the Year in the UK Green Business Awards.
Design and construction team credits:
Contractor: Wates
Architect: Darling Associates
Interior ‘street designer’: Hassell Studio
Project Manager: Avison Young
Cost Consultant: Currie & Brown
Building services and sustainability consultant: Hoare Lea
Structural engineer: Mason Navarro Pledge
Landscape architect: Gillespies
Agents: Knight Frank and Alder King
