After months of preparatory work, construction of Bristol’s only speculative office building is about to begin following the appointment of contractors Willmott Dixon in a contract worth around £20 million.
The 95,000 sq ft building, called Aurora, is part of Finzels Reach, the new quarter being created in the heart of Bristol by Bristol based developer Cubex.
Willmott Dixon is soon to start work on the building’s superstructure, which will see Aurora take to the skies in the coming months following the completion of the basement works.
Aurora will be a landmark headquarters building in Bristol’s central business district of Grade A quality, a term used to describe brand new premier office space. It is set to be the only BREEAM Outstanding office building within 100 miles of the city – an indicator of its excellent sustainability credentials. Less than one per cent of the UK’s non-domestic buildings have achieved this measure.
Gavin Bridge, director at Cubex, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Aurora. With cranes arriving on site now and construction activity moving on apace, it won’t be long before we see a new addition to Bristol’s skyline.
“Aurora occupies a unique place in Bristol’s office market, given that it is the only speculative office building in the city. The availability of Grade A space in the city centre is at an historically low level at around 70,000 sq ft and demand for space of this quality is high, so we are confident that we will have a lot of interest from organisations across the city and from further afield.
“The building is well suited to a variety of occupants from SMEs to larger organisations looking for a new headquarters. It also presents a great opportunity for companies working on the Hinkley Point C development to be able to take space right next door to EDF, which has its headquarters for the project at the neighbouring Bridgewater House.”
Aurora will consist of six storeys, with each floor measuring 15,500 sq ft. Its striking façade and double height reception area will lead through to a central glass atrium which will extend to the full height of the building. There will also be 51 secure car parking spaces, electric car charging points and secure motorcycle and bicycle storage. Cubex expects the building to be ready for fit out by the end of next year.
Neal Stephens, managing director of Willmott Dixon Construction in Wales and the West said, “With a local office in Bristol, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to build such an important office for the city’s economy, one that will attract new investment and set the standard for BREEAM Outstanding in a city that was 2015’s European Green Capital. We will work hard to ensure this project benefits the Bristol economy, partnering with local companies and sustaining jobs for local people.”
