New Bristol warehouse impressed by refurbishment

Central Park, the new warehouse development, has been impressed by Bristol-based building firm Midas’ plans to overhaul the Narrow Quay House, which was sitting empty in Bristol’s Harbourside.

The plans involve expanding and modernising the building, creating a glazed atrium.

The building, which spans 58,000 sq ft, is owned by investment firm Standard Life Heritage With Profits Fund but it isVeale Wasborough Visards which will be leasing most of the space once it is finished. The law firm has outgrown its city centre spot and will be moving its 250 staff in, plus have room to grow.

Managing partner Simon Heald said: “Narrow Quay House will provide the space we need to support our future growth. Whilst supporting our objectives of retaining a city centre location, a great working environment on the waterfront, and being accessible to staff and clients.”

Work began in May and is due to finish in spring 2015.

Derek Quinn, executive director at Midas Construction, described it as a “fantastic” project that would transform a very prominent commercial building in the centre of the city.

He said: “The logistics of carrying out the internal renovations are challenging and involve a lot of careful planning, with a complex steel frame installation needing to come through the front entrance and be erected within the building to create the extra floor space, for example. The existing façade will be removed from the outside of the building and a dramatic new design created, with a double height entrance to Princes Street. The development is of a very high quality, with our client and ourselves working closely with AWW Architects to create an extremely high-end office development to benefit Bristol city centre.”

Standard Life fund manager Will Fulton said the investment would improve the public realm and added the firm was delighted to have a high-profile tenant

Source: Bristol Post