Hampshire’s newest office has been officially unveiled following a £1m investment.
Two-storey Spinnaker House in Fareham was stripped back to a shell before new fixtures and fittings, electrics and heating and cooling systems were installed.
Several companies have already expressed an interest in leasing the headquarter building, which sits in 3.3 acres of landscaped grounds and can accommodate up to 200 people.
Hughes Ellard and Warwick Martel are joint marketing agents for the 21,809 sq ft (2,026 sq m) property, which is owned by Horatio Properties and has 88 parking spaces.
Russell Mogridge, the business space director at commercial property consultancy Hughes Ellard, said: “Spinnaker House is the first of its kind in the town to benefit from a sizeable investment since the global credit crunch in 2008 and is likely to appeal to a single occupier looking for a national or regional headquarters.
“The £1m refit has effectively created a brand-new office, with the investment decision based on future confidence as the UK economy starts to recover.
“We’ve already has several enquiries from growth companies keen to consolidate operations under one roof as their current satellite offices don’t easily lend themselves to greater efficiencies.
“We’re also seeing a resurgence in office sector activity as companies sitting on ‘war-chest’ cash finally open their wallets after deciding that the worst economic slump on record is now firmly behind them.
“A single occupier is anticipated sooner rather than later as, according to various regional and national data, business confidence continues to improve.”
The mayor of Fareham, Councillor Susan Bayford, opened Spinnaker House in time-honoured tradition with the cutting of the ceremonial red ribbon.
Spinnaker House, built in the 1980s and fully occupied until two years ago under a sale-and-leaseback arrangement, was refurbished by Vibe, a business interiors design and fit-out specialist based in Warsash.
Project management was by Southampton-based Rekan, with electrical installation by Dicks in Winnall, Winchester, and heating and cooling systems by Gateway Building Services in Southampton.
Vibe created open-plan offices, workstations, collaboration and break-out areas, meeting rooms and a contemporary reception.
The low-energy building, which has environmentally-friendly ‘follow-me’ lighting, was previously a complex of labs for a company involved in research and development.
Russell added: “With immediate access to the A27 and M27, and a five-minute walk from Fareham centre and public transport, the standalone location for Spinnaker House is likely to appeal to discerning companies.”
Prior to the official unveiling, a guided tour for commercial property agents across Hampshire was held by Hughes Ellard and Warwick Martel.
