Hermes Investment Management, the £36 billion fund manager, has officially announced the launch of Ascent 1, a 75,000 sq ft extensively refurbished office, within Farnborough Aerospace Centre. This marks the completion of three of the four Ascent buildings, with two of the buildings now fully let and 50% of the remaining office space available.
Designed by Hale Architects, the restored Ascent 1 building is centred around a newly-created 2,200 sq ft atrium, along with a full height entrance façade and enhanced reception area, set to appeal to international corporations and independent businesses alike. Sustainability is also at the heart of Ascent 1, with PV panels on the roof, electric vehicle charging points, showers and bike facilities, plus a BREEAM rating of Very Good and an EPC rating of B.
Ascent 1 joins buildings 2, 3 and 4, which totals approximately 250,000 sq ft of Grade A flexible space at this unique office estate. Each building has its own distinctive design attributes and dedicated landscaping, with access to a vast array of amenities including a restaurant, café, gym and conference spaces, with the enhancement of facilities set to continue.
Benefitting from excellent accessibility, the Ascent buildings are situated close to the A331 giving access to the A3 and Junction 4 of the M3, and offer two frequent dedicated shuttle buses connecting tenants to the town centre as well as Farnborough train station in seven minutes.
Stephen Ellis, Asset Manager, Hermes Investment Management, said: “Since we started the Ascent development project, we’ve driven forward our vision to create a high-quality, flexible working space, with a range of amenities that create a positive and enjoyable experience for employees. The unveiling of the rejuvenated Ascent 1 building reflects Hermes’ belief in creating places where people want to work, live and play – in turn providing a better chance of attracting global talent, achieving capital and delivering sustainable futures for all.”
Sam Walker, Director, Canmoor, added: “After an extensive refurbishment and investment programme, it is a pleasure to now showcase Ascent 1 as part of the wider contemporary working environment and the next phase in our redevelopment, with Ascent 2 set to follow. We are in discussion with a handful of occupiers keen to acquire space in Ascent 1 and 4, and look forward to welcoming new businesses to the vibrant and engaging Ascent offer.”
Hermes Investment Management appointed Canmoor as strategic advisor throughout the repositioning of Ascent Farnborough. Cushman & Wakefield and Hollis Hockley act as joint leasing agents for Hermes Investment Management.
The launch of Ascent 1 follows the news that leading direct banking and payments services company, Discover Financial Services, had signed a 12-year lease of the Ascent 3 building. The US-based company has selected the recently refurnished Grade A building at Farnborough Aerospace Centre for its new UK head office.
The Ascent buildings equate to 250,000 sq ft of office space with over 1,200 parking spaces. Farnborough Aerospace Centre is the corporate headquarters for BAE Systems with Zurich Insurance, Infor and Lockheed Martin also represented on the estate, with Discover Financial Services moving in next month. Well-connected and just minutes away from Farnborough town centre, providing direct trains to London Waterloo (30 minutes), the Ascent buildings are also adjacent to Farnborough Airport (private charter) and in close proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The A3 and Junction 4 of the M3 are also both easily accessible, providing excellent connectivity for occupiers’ employees.
