Architect takes 10-year lease to create new hybrid office space

AEW Architects has announced that, after another successful year, it has taken 5,333 sq ft on a 10-year lease on the seventh floor at Trinity to house its team or more than 75 staff.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns gave the company an opportunity to consider its existing office requirement.

AEW has fully embraced agile working, offering staff a flexible hybrid home/office work option. This has encouraged a better work-life balance and improved employee health and wellbeing.

With this in mind, despite growing as a practice, the company has reduced its office size and, instead, focused on designing a flexible, collaborative space which champions the company’s ‘Together we’ culture.

The fit-out, which also includes significant investment in robust IT hardware to improve remote working and video conferencing capability, will showcase the company’s interior design expertise and put into practice workplace design principles AEW is currently delivering with a range of office clients.

Managing director, Andrew Rainford, said: “We wanted to provide the highest possible quality environment to encourage our team back to the office.

“We conducted a survey to find out what our people wanted from an office and Trinity ticked all the boxes – striking the right balance of space, cost and quality.”

The top floor space at Trinity offers panoramic views across Manchester and boasts three external balconies, allowing staff to stay connected with the outdoors.

William Parry, senior property executive at Helical which acquired Trinity in 2017, said: “It’s great to see companies like AEW Architects reassessing their office situation and choosing Trinity. It shows that, despite the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, occupier demand remains for well located, quality, Grade A workspace.

“We’re looking forward to seeing their workspace transformed when it’s ready this September.”

Trinity

Richard Dinsdale, director at joint agent Edwards & Co, said: “We are delighted that AEW Architects have chosen to relocate their business to Trinity, which further enhances the strength and diversity of the building’s tenant profile. With their creative influence, we expect their new penthouse office to sit amongst some of the most special working environments within the city.”

This letting follows a flurry of lettings in the building during lockdown. Now, only two Cat A full floors remain, with the other available floor being the second floor (7,902 sq ft) fully fitted out as a plug and play workspace ready for immediate occupation by an occupier.

Savills and Edwards & Co are joint agents for office space on the scheme.