Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, has signed the steel work at the 200,000 sq. ft EQ development, marking the progress of the construction of 111 Victoria Street.
Raising the bar in terms of quality, occupant wellbeing and sustainability, EQ will provide 20,000 sq. ft of occupier amenities such as a rooftop bar, restaurant and business lounge with communal terrace, ground floor café kitchen, 50 seat auditorium, as well as a fitness suite and break out space.
The building will provide some of the largest open plan office floor plates in Bristol of up to 27,377 sq. ft. Developer, CEG, will also offer its Let Ready Go studio concept, offering fully-equipped internet ready workstations meeting and amenity space as part of a thriving and collaborative community.
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Cranes are on the horizon across Bristol, with new homes and offices going up as we tackle the city’s housing crisis and create new jobs. The EQ development has already created over 500 new jobs for Bristolians and is on track to open our region’s first net zero building later this year.
“As we work towards ambitious carbon neutrality goals, it’s brilliant to see CEG among the Bristol businesses doing their bit for our planet while bringing a £466 million annual boost to our city economy.”
EQ is set to complete later this year and already 40% of the building is pre-let and a further 10% of the space is under offer.
Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG, explained: “We have had a fantastic start to the year, business confidence in Bristol remains strong, with continuing occupier requirements for more than 100,000 sq. ft of office space.
“Our innovative approach to flexible leases, and delivery of tenant fit outs to reduce initial capital outlay, add to the appeal. We are also seeing occupants seek better quality space to attract and retain the best people. This, and the desire for workspace to reflect the businesses’ sustainability credentials, means that EQ’s fantastic environmental specification is incredibly well placed in the market.”
EQ is an all-electric building, with a connection to the district heat network. It is the first building in the southwest to announce a commitment to targeting Net Zero Carbon in operation.
Its fabric first design, with a more efficient façade, reduces the amount of energy the building needs and the photovoltaic units on the roof are capable of saving 25tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Heating will be achieved through low carbon heat-pump technology, taking advantage of waste heat from the building’s conditioning systems.
Rainwater recycling will save 2,000 litres of water per occupant per annum and the design to reduce water consumption overall is 53% better than the Better Building Partnership (BBP) typical benchmark building. It will save 4,800 litres of water per person each year – the equivalent of four Olympic swimming pools.
As well as targeting BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A, EQ is designed as a Smart Tech enabled building to optimise operational performance.
In a first for Bristol, a dedicated bicycle entrance and ramp from Temple Street to the basement provides easy access to more than 260 cycle spaces, which is in excess of industry standard, with e-bike charging also available. Health club quality changing and shower facilities are also provided.
BAM Construction is delivering the striking glass building on behalf of the CEG Group. In addition to creating over 500 construction jobs each year during the two-year build programme, EQ has generated 42 apprentice opportunities working in partnership with sub-contractors to support four BAM Technical Apprentice opportunities, generate over 504 apprentice training weeks and supporting 9 unemployed people into full time work.
Tim Chell, Regional Director of BAM Construction in the Western region, said: “BAM’s association with Bristol is very strong and historic so it is brilliant for a firm like ourselves, being leaders in sustainability, to be driving such a modern and highly sustainable new building here.
“The partnership and understanding we have with CEG is what unlocks a better building and allows us to solve problems together and create the sort of environment that people respond to positively. That also empowers the whole development to add value and give something back to the community around us. The recognition this building is getting is well-deserved.”
Once complete, the building will accommodate over 2,000 people and will deliver £466 million GVA per annum from direct and indirect operational jobs.
CEG has appointed Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman and Wakefield to launch EQ, a 200,000 sq. ft speculative office development at 111 Victoria Street Bristol to the market.
Steve Lane, partner at Cushman and Wakefield Bristol, said: ““EQ will deliver some of the highest quality, most sustainable offices in the city. This combined with the building’s excellent amenity provision is what is attracting occupiers.”
Ian Wills, director of JLL, explains: “EQ will offer its tenants a unique occupational experience through its range of on-site facilities and the quality of the working environment. The sustainability credentials mean it will cost less to run and meaningfully reduce the environmental impact.”
CEG has one of the largest office development pipelines in Bristol, offering some 400,000 sq. ft in its local portfolio at The Quorum, The Crescent Centre, 1000 Aztec West and EQ.
The Quorum has been recently refurbished, and a planning consent has been granted to redesign/ re-configure the Crescent Centre.
The team is also preparing to deliver a multimillion-pound redevelopment and extension of 1000 Aztec West. The comprehensive refurbishment will create a one of a kind 79,000 sq. ft headquarter office building located on Bristol’s premier business park.
More information is available on www.eqbristol.co.uk