Property investment and development company CEG has appointed national construction company, McLaughlin & Harvey, to commence construction works for the landmark Glasgow office space development at 33 Cadogan Street (formerly known as The Grid). CEG has secured equity funding from its existing investors, primarily sourced from Swedish State Pension Funds AP1 and AP4, managing two of the buffer funds in the Swedish public pension system. AP1 and AP4 have a strong commitment to sustainability and have a long track record of investing in UK regional cities with CEG. With full planning permission in place for the c.300,000 sq. ft office development, and the site already cleared and enabled for construction, the development will complete in summer 2025. Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG, said: “The start on site with this speculative development is testament to CEG’s confidence in the Glasgow market. The city is suffering from an acute lack of Grade A office supply and 33 Cadogan Street will help to remedy that. “A best-in-class office development, targeting the highest sustainability credentials, it will respond to occupier’s demands for Net Zero Carbon in operation office space, as well as providing fantastic amenities and a healthy and productive place to work.” Glasgow based architects, Cooper Cromar, has helped CEG enhance the sustainability credentials in the design of the new development. JLL and CBRE have been appointed as joint agents to market 33 Cadogan Street. Andy Cunningham, senior director CBRE, said: “The flight to quality has diminished the availability of top-quality office space in Glasgow and Covid-19 only accelerated this trend. With no new build development being delivered until 33 Cadogan Street completes in Summer 2025, we anticipate pent up demand from occupiers.” Alistair Reid, Director at JLL, added: “33 Cadogan Street has been designed with sustainability and occupier amenity at its heart, to further support the return of occupiers to the office in a post-pandemic world. Targeting Net Zero Carbon in operation, the building aims to align with occupiers’ corporate carbon reduction goals” CEG has a track record of delivering award-winning offices in Scotland. Following the development of Aurora on Bothwell Street in 2006, the company helped to kickstart the regeneration of the area with its 178,000 sq. ft new build. The successful speculative development was fully let within six months of completion. The company’s Onyx development in Glasgow was recently redeveloped to deliver a new café, an extensive range of facilities for cyclists and new flexible Let Ready studios, providing fully furnished grow-on space for smaller companies and project or satellite space for larger firms. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The real estate industry has an opportunity to embrace inclusive design and make workplaces more appropriate, according to a new report. The analysis, from global real estate advisor CBRE, found that despite many organisations striving to improve diversity, equity and inclusion through new policies and culture, a third (32%) of respondents felt that inclusive design was ‘not important at all’ or ‘not relevant’ to real estate. As well as considering the physical or ‘built’ environment, the report – Building Belonging – highlighted that human and digital components must be considered when planning a space. For example, in addition to physical elements such as designated collaborative and quiet areas, the human desire to socialise and the need for appropriate training on digital tools must be considered in order for a space to be fully inclusive and accessible for all.  Jennet Siebrits, Head of UK Research, CBRE, said: “Inclusive design benefits everyone and is incredibly important in attracting a diverse range of talent to the workplace. A workplace that promotes inclusion enables all employees to feel welcome and perform at their best, but sadly incorporating inclusive design remains a relatively low priority for office occupiers, despite its growing importance for organisations to attract and retain diverse talent. “We know that there are several factors contributing to employees leaving their jobs, including lack of flexibility, salary and poor management. However, a primary reason that continually leads to attrition is a toxic workplace culture, suggesting that lack of inclusion and respect are common deciding factors. People don’t stay where they don’t feel they belong, and the pandemic has only magnified this. Making a space usable, flexible and adaptable through inclusive design is key to supporting people.” The CBRE report identified five key areas where organisations can overcome barriers to inclusive design: For behaviours, mindsets and values to truly change, leadership teams must lead by example. If leaders understand the benefit of initiatives before they are launched, they can be instrumental in promoting and championing these. Organisations should take the time to understand their situation as a first step towards identifying gaps, for example by undertaking an assessment by engaging with stakeholders, employee networks or engaging a specialist. Organisation should consider connecting with local charities and organisations with the resources to help to accelerate progress. Opportunities to consider inclusion are not limited to refurbishing an office. For example, when selecting a new office building it’s important to consider its location in terms of accessible transport links and access to nearby green space. Engaging an expert consultant can help to navigate inclusive design and ensure the latest legislation and best practice guidelines are adhered to. Georgina Fraser, Head of Human Capital at CBRE, added: “The spaces that we design and manage should be deliberately and thoughtfully created for people to feel safe and that they belong, while enabling them to do their best work. We need to create and maintain spaces that do this for all users, regardless of age, gender, ability, neurodiversity, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification or reassignment. Now, more than ever, offices must be destinations that people want to work in; they must now compete with home-working and the hyper-personalisation that provides. It is a great time to ensure inclusion is at the heart of post-Covid workplace strategy, design and operation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

CEG has appointed contractor, Kier, to deliver the comprehensive redevelopment of The Crescent Centre at Temple Quay in Bristol. The redevelopment has been designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman, an architecture and interior design practice with 25 years of refurbishment and retrofit experience across the UK and Europe. It includes a new two-storey feature façade with best-in-class amenity space on the ground floor, including a café and external decked area. There will be a one-storey rooftop extension and the addition of three private roof terraces, the most prominent of which offers unrivalled views over Temple Gardens from the fifth floor. The completed development will be rebranded as Crescent and will benefit from the largest private garden in the city centre. Other amenities include a gym and fitness studio, an all-new secure, weatherproof cycle park with capacity for 164 cycles and repair docking facilities. The new building will deliver 101,000 sq ft of lettable office space. Work commenced in October 2022 and is expected to complete in June 2024. Lawrence Escott, investment manager at CEG, said; “Crescent occupies a prominent location on Temple Back and will benefit from the best amenity provision and outlook of any building in its class. This £28 million redevelopment is a timely boost for Bristol and a continued vote of confidence in the city by CEG, where we have managed significant investments in EQ and Aztec West, not to mention the continued success of the Quorum. We look forward to welcoming new tenants in 2024”. As well as targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, the project aims to make the building Net Zero Carbon in operation. Reuse of the existing structure provides a 45% reduction in upfront embodied carbon over new build, allied with best-in-class energy efficient heating and cooling, makes Crescent a compelling sustainability option. The development will offer floor plates of 18,000 sq ft. It also benefits from the ability to accommodate a range of requirements from 1,600 sq ft upwards. Carter Jonas and Savills have been appointed to launch the development to market. Andrew Hardwick of Carter Jonas said: “This is not just any old redevelopment! Crescent will deliver something distinctly different, best in class for Bristol, coupling the unique attractions of generous external green space adjoining the Temple Gardens and a penthouse with awesome views over the city. All this just a stones’ throw from Temple Meads. It is going to be a very powerful offering.” Chris Meredith of Savills added: “With sustainability at the forefront of Crescent development, this building will deliver to the requirements of the modern occupier. The need to secure high quality, sustainable and flexible office accommodation to help provide the best workplace experience for employees is at the top of agenda, and the Crescent will create one of Bristol’s best office buildings delivering to this demand.”  Jason Taylor, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “This is a significant development in the heart of Bristol city centre. We will be transforming Crescent into a modern office with first-class facilities. “Once completed, this development will provide much-needed new office space to support the city’s business community.”   Nick Jones, Associate Director, Buckley Gray Yeoman, said: “We’ve long been champions of creative refurbishment and retrofit of buildings that both improves the user experience and responds decisively to the climate emergency. Crescent is going to be an exemplar for Bristol and will set the bar high for modern workspace with plenty of character and impressive tenant amenities.” This £28 million investment is the latest in significant investments into the CEG Group’s portfolio in Bristol which, to date, stands at £234 million. The team is managing a 450,000 sq ft portfolio, has refurbished the Quorum and is onsite EQ at 111 Victoria Street and 1000 Aztec West both of which are set to complete in the first half of 2023. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals