Cundall commits to Newcastle’s Bank House
Having worked as design engineer on the building’s construction, the firm has signed for a 10,000 sq ft floor, taking occupancy over the 60% mark.
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Cundall was founded in the North East and the office will be its headquarters, the firm describing the move as “coming home”.
Cundall was advised by Barker Proudlove, with Avison Young representing the landlord. The deal follows six other lettings at the 12-storey Bank House, which launched last summer.
Jim Allen, partner and Newcastle office lead at Cundall, explained: “We are very proud as a North East-founded business to have been involved in this scheme all the way from demolition of the previous building, that housed the Bank of England, right through the design, construction, and eventual completion of Bank House one year ago.
“So, not only is it entirely fitting that our head office remains in Newcastle, but as the multi-disciplinary design engineers for Bank House we know this building very well. Signing up to this incredible space, with its amazing views of Newcastle’s iconic Tyne Bridge, gives us a sense of coming home.”
More than 10% per cent of Cundall’s 1,200 staff will be based within its new 10,155 sq.ft headquarters at Bank House, which will make up one of its 26 global offices.
The firm, which operates using a hybrid working model in which staff are office-based three days each week, feels the flexibility of Bank House means it can increase its future headcount without requiring any additional space.
Allen continued: “Not only does Bank House have a great city centre location within the state-of-the-art development currently taking place in and around Pilgrim Street, but it is one of the premium offices that the region has to offer.
“Sustainability runs through everything we do as a practice, so it was only right to ensure that Cundall’s head office is in a building that reflects that commitment.”
Bank House is rated as BREEAM Excellent.
Tony Wordsworth, director at Avison Young, which acts as joint letting agent for the property alongside Knight Frank, added: “It is fantastic to see Cundall’s longstanding involvement in the vision for Bank House culminate in the team making it their base, particularly because we know how crucial sustainability standards are to the business.
“It’s also fantastic that with this, the building is now over 60 per cent let, and I am pleased to say that there is strong interest in a large volume of the remaining available space.”
In the six previous lettings to take place at Bank House, deals were agreed with DAC Beachcroft, Lycetts, Oliver Wyman, Barclays, CUBO and Knights, which agreed terms on 5,000 sq ft in January.
Allen concluded: “In nearly 50 years of business, it is fair to say Cundall has grown! We feel that our Bank House address will serve as a fantastic flagship location and help us achieve even more global growth.”
