News

Date

28/01/2008

Pioneering York Office Building Clicks into Place

Work on a superb 14,500 sq ft contemporary Grade A office building in York has now been completed.

Situated on Hospital Fields Road in the Fulford area of the city, the iconic building is called THE EDGE and has been speculatively developed by Shepherd Developments, part of the York-based Shepherd Group.

THE EDGE is one of the most innovative and distinctive office buildings ever constructed in the city. A pioneering ClickBrick system from Holland has been used for the first time in the United Kingdom.

The bricks, made by Dutch company Daas Baksteen, are clicked together without mortar and can therefore be laid in all weather conditions, which helped main contractor Shepherd Construction meet the tight eight-month building schedule.

The finished bricks created a rich and highly variable surface, which has enabled Leeds-based architects Sturgeon North to choose interesting internal and external materials to provide continuity for the building.

Other features of THE EDGE include:

• Disabled toilet and shower facilities on both floors to cater for cyclists, etc.
• Relatively shallow office floorplates with good floor to ceiling height to provide good daylight levels with opening windows to promote natural ventilation (though the building can be comfort cooled to meet potential tenant requirements)
• Double height entrance foyer as a focal point.
• The car park features a 'SUDS' system (Sustainable Drainage System) in which all surface rainwater is allowed to seep into the ground through a series of filter courses (the finishing surface being black Derbyshire slate), thus minimizing rainwater run-off into existing sewers.

THE EDGE is close to Shepherd's award-winning development of Fulford Moor House and is within easy access of York city centre, the River Ouse and the new Millennium Bridge.

The £3.5 million state-of-the-art development, designed by Sturgeon North, consists of a two-storey comfort cooled office building with parking for 34 cars and 25 cycles in a secure landscaped setting. The main facade is over 60 metres long.  The accommodation on each floor is over 7,288 sq ft, making the total office space available just over 14,500 sq ft. 

Richard Squire, Project Director of Shepherd Developments, commented: "THE EDGE is a really exciting and pioneering project, the like of which York has never seen. The building, which is available for immediate occupation, looks amazing with its unique design and unusual materials."

"The fact that we built it speculatively is a massive vote of confidence in the York market. There is currently a shortage of Grade A office space in the city and we are confident that THE EDGE fulfils a need."

"We are happy to sell or lease the building and will be looking at rents around £16 per sq ft. It should appeal to businesses across all sectors, who might be looking for more modern offices in an excellent location. THE EDGE can be let or sold as a whole or let to two occupiers"

Speaking on behalf of Shepherd Construction, Phil Greer, Divisional Construction Director, said, "We are pleased to have completed the innovative and landmark project aptly named THE EDGE. We have been on site since April 2007 and were very pleased to see the project completed within the short time scale."

Miles Lawrence of York-based letting agents Lawrence, Hannah, commented: "This is one of the most exciting speculative office developments in York for years. Its bold and contemporary design, combined with its excellent internal facilities and superb location, is a winning combination.

"Prospective occupiers should come and see THE EDGE now. We have a marketing suite now on site, which gives an excellent overview of what this stunning development is all about. It is certainly worth a visit."

"It is only one mile from the city centre and it is just off the A19 Fulford Road. This, in turn, gives easy access to the A64 York-Leeds road and to Yorkshire's motorway network," said Mr Lawrence. "It is also very close to the River Ouse and the Millennium Bridge".

He added: "A speculative development on the south side of York is just what the city needs. There is no more building planned for the York Science Park at Heslington, so THE EDGE is perfectly timed." 

THE EDGE is close to Shepherd Developments' Stuart House, one of the largest speculative office developments ever undertaken in York, which has been let to Minster Law.

Mr Lawrence added: "The successful letting of Stuart House was a resounding endorsement of York's commercial property market, which is emerging from the large shadow of Leeds down the road. The prospects for York now look very bright and the decision by Shepherd Developments to speculatively develop THE EDGE underlines this".

For further information, please contact Robert Beaumont on 01423 323139