£4bn turnover group signs deal for landmark building

Building materials company Kingspan has taken a ten-year lease at Birmingham’s iconic Fort Dunlop.

CBRE advised the business on the 8,991 sq ft letting on the top/sixth floor of the landmark building.

Kingspan, which has produced high-performance insulation and building envelopes for high profile buildings around the world – including Changi Airport, Singapore, Dundee’s new V&A museum and New York’s Squibb Building – will base its UK commercial, technical and 3D design team at the Fort.

Kingspan has moved from Digbeth, acquiring additional office space to accommodate its 62-strong team.

Liz Bailey, associate director in CBRE’s office agency team in Birmingham, advised Kingspan on the letting.

She said: “The Fort ticked Kingspan’s requirements for easy access to the motorway network, ample car parking and good onsite amenities for staff. The deal was agreed prior to the lockdown period but Kingspan was keen to proceed and the majority of the team are already set up and working in the new office.”

Birmingham-based Estilo Interiors was appointed to design and fit-out the workspace.

Lucy Hansell, head of business development at Estilo, said: “We were tasked with completing the project within four weeks in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We adapted our original plans to accommodate social distancing requirements, but with an eye on future-proofing the layout so it could be changed again as current guidelines relax. We were able to complete the project on time and on budget, adhering to government guidelines as well as standards issued by the landlord.”

Avison Young advised the landlord, Tristan Capital Partners, on the letting.