Engineering consultancy Arup signs up to Sheffield offices

ARUP, the engineering consultancy, has agreed to take office space at 3 St Paul’s Place in Sheffield city centre.

The firm has signed up to take 16,000 sq ft at £23 per sq ft – setting a record for office rents in the city.

CTP and Development Securities were the developers of 3 St Paul’s Place, and it was built by Bowmer & Kirkland as part of the £130m “heart of the city” project.

3 St Paul’s Place, developed by CTP and Development Securities and built by Bowmer & Kirkland, is the final part of the pioneering £130m Heart of the City project.

It was the first speculative office building in Sheffield to be developed since the recession.

The 10-storey building will be ready for occupation by the end of January.

David Topham, director of Manchester-based developers CTP, said: “Arup’s decision to relocate to 3 St Paul’s Place is a resounding endorsement of our development. It is also extremely encouraging that a company with Arup’s reputation for quality and technical excellence has chosen our building as their base in Sheffield.

“The record rent achieved is also a vindication of our decision to develop a speculative Grade A office building in Sheffield in the midst of the recession as well as a reflection of the quality of office space we have created.

“There is already strong interest in the remainder of the building and we look forward to announcing new tenants in due course.”

Arup has been in Sheffield since 1957 and has been behind many of the city’s landmark projects from Park Hill flats and Ponds Forge International Pool to the City Hall refurbishment and the Diamond at the University of Sheffield.

Office Leader, Jim Bell, said: “Our Sheffield office has a fantastic reputation, and is an important location for the firm. We recruit excellent graduates from the two Universities, and attract staff from farther afield with Sheffield’s reputation as a lively, outdoor city. Being in the heart of the city is key to our belief in vibrant cities and low-energy futures, and 3 St Paul’s Place is an ideal location and a landmark building.”

St Paul’s Place is occupied by lawyers DLA Piper, RBS, Barclays, accountants PwC, Coutts and the Department of Children, Schools and Families.
The architects of 3 St Paul’s Place are Manchester-based Hodder and Partners.

The marketing agents for 3 St Paul’s Place are the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, together with the Leeds offices of BNP Pariabas and DTZ.

Richard Dunhill of BNP Paribas added: “3 St Pauls Place delivers much-needed prime Grade A office space within Sheffield’s city centre core. We are very proud to be part the team on this successful development which has helped regenerate this area within the heart of the city. “

CTP and Development Securities are being supported by Sheffield City Council, regeneration agency Creative Sheffield, SCR JESSICA, which was set up to support infrastructure and real estate investment opportunities across the region, and the European Regional Development Fund, managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.