An automation software development company in the South is the first occupier at a city centre building which has undergone a London-style HQ transformation totalling more than £2m.
Cortex, which specialises in intelligent automation software and solutions, has signed a 10-year lease on the top floor of four-storey Kings Park House in Kings Park Road, Southampton.
Hughes Ellard, an independent commercial property consultancy, acted for RT Warren Investments in the deal, with 30 Cortex staff relocating from the city’s Ogle Road.
Cortex’s new Grade A office accommodation is 3,426 sq ft (318 sq m), including a balcony, with room to double the workforce under expansion plans. Quoting rent was £21 a sq ft.
Russell Mogridge, the business space director at Hughes Ellard, which covers the Solent region, said: “Cortex is the first business to sign up, taking the top floor, with the second floor already under offer to a law firm.
“We expect the building to be fully occupied by the end of this year, given the superb quality of the refurbishment and interior remodelling, which cost more than £2m and saw the whole property stripped back to the core.
“The remaining space would suit a business seeking 3,000 to 7,500 sq ft in the city centre.
“There is a dearth of Grade A office stock available in the city centre, further fuelling demand from expanding businesses such as Cortex.
“Kings Park House, located close to Jurys Inn Hotel, has been transformed to a London-styled HQ office building, with contemporary interior design and state-of-the-art building management technology.
“What’s more it has on-site car park – a rarity in the city these days.”
Eddie Watson, Cortex’s operations director, said: “We’d been searching for some months for the right office – Kings Park House fitted the bill because of the excellent environment, adaptability of space and location.
“We have room to double employee numbers and the vibrant break-out area and informal working space has proved a hit.”
Cortex’s software platform works with customers and partners around the world to transform businesses. It automates business and technology systems, applying analysis and decision making at machine speed.
Eddie said: “Our intelligent automation technology enables organisations to work faster and deliver efficiencies.
“From simple to complex processes and systems we provide an easy-to-use customer interface and approach to automation.
“Such is commercial demand, we anticipate growing headcount in Southampton, with a number of new employees already lined up to join us in the coming months.”
Hughes Ellard is joint marketing agent of Kings Park House with CBRE.
Mark Thomas, a chartered surveyor from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, acted for Cortex in the deal.
