Landsec is pressing ahead with the refurbishment of the 300,000 sq ft Thirty High (formerly Portland House) office scheme in Victoria and has appointed McLaren as the main contractor for the project, which is due to complete in 2025.
In addition to Grade A office floorplates of circa 11,000 sq ft, Thirty High will also provide a communal rooftop clubroom restaurant and terrace, a multi-functional event space and bookable meeting and short term project rooms.
The full electric tower is designed to be net zero in construction and operation and by retaining the existing building structure Landsec said it will achieve a circa circa 60% reduction in embodied carbon compared with the current Greater London Authority benchmark
Landsec is targeting NABERS 5*, WELL Core Gold and BREEAM Outstanding for the refurbishment project.
Oliver Knight, head of workplace at Landsec said: “At a time when other developers are pulling back from committing to new projects, we’re bringing forward much needed space to a supply constrained Grade A market. Our existing portfolio in the West End continues to outperform, with recent deals setting new benchmark rents for the area. This, combined with the strength of the wider London market, gives us the confidence to fully commit to exceptional projects like Thirty High, one of the only office towers in the West End.”
John Butten, managing director for the major projects division at McLaren Construction, added: “The retrofit of Thirty High is a comprehensive refurbishment led by a low carbon delivery goal. More than 60 years after the existing structure had been completed, we are now refurbishing it, retaining its original features whilst reimagining it as a workplace for the future and that’s exactly what we should be doing to reduce carbon emissions from construction. Thirty High is going to demonstrate just how smart, efficient and desirable a retrofitted office can be.”
Landsec has appointed Knight Frank and RX London as leasing agents for Thirty High.
Earlier today (12 October), Landsec launched its 144,000 sq ft Lucent development, which sits directly behind London’s iconic Piccadilly Lights. The office space at Lucent is already 77% let or in solicitor’s hands with only one floor of 25,000 sq ft remaining.
Marcus Geddes, managing director for workplace at Landsec said: “Businesses are focused on finding innovative spaces that best serve the needs of their people, meaning that modern office space in prime locations will continue to outperform other markets. The leasing momentum we’ve seen at Lucent is testament to this.
“Access to amenity is fast becoming one of the biggest drivers in leasing decisions, with businesses looking for spaces that can attract and retain the best talent. The combination of office space, retail and an unparalleled restaurants and leisure on site make Lucent a new destination in its own right.”
