RICS confirms location of new Birmingham office
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has announced details of its relocation to Birmingham city centre.
The institution has agreed a lease on the entire fifth and 50% of the ground floors of 55 Colmore Row, joining previously confirmed tenants Savills and Pinsent Masons.
The organisation, which sets professional standards in the land, property, infrastructure and construction sectors, revealed earlier this year its intention to move from Coventry to Birmingham.
The operational headquarters will move in early 2018 and will see the existing West Midlands regional office join the Coventry team from their previous premises on Waterloo Street.
Sean Tompkins, CEO of RICS said: “We have for a long time looked to move our operational headquarters from Surveyor Court and we are pleased to announce that we will be moving into central Birmingham come 2018.
“55 Colmore Row not only gives us a more flexible space, it brings us into the centre of a significant city allowing us the opportunity to better engage the profession, employers of the profession and raise awareness and inspire the next generation.”
The move will coincide with the RICS’ 150th anniversary.
55 Colmore Row has undergone a £35m refurbishment since being acquired by IM Properties following the departure of law firm Wragge & Co.
Pinsent Masons is occupying 40,000 sq ft of space at the building, spread across two floors.
IM Properties’ investment director, John Hammond said: “If you’re going to develop prime offices, you couldn’t be much better placed in terms of location than 55 Colmore Row. We always understood its potential and that’s why we invested so significantly to create the best offices in the city centre.
“Quality and location will always trump the competition, although undoutedly it was also a question of being in the right place at the right time, with Colmore Row and the surrounding business district enjoying considerable growth and attention.
“We were delighted Pinsents and Savills decided to come here, but it is especially satisfying when the association which drives best practice and the highest quality of professional standards into our industry also chooses us, and from a very competitive market-place.”
