Landmark Leeds city centre office building receives “best-in-class” £10m sustainable redevelopment

Opus North and Fiera Real Estate (FRE UK) have announced the practical completion of their £10m redevelopment of 12 King Street, the landmark Leeds city centre office building.

The property, built in 1989 and spanning seven floors has been transformed by Opus North and FRE UK into a flagship office building, providing 54,000 sq. ft of “best-in-class” Grade A office space.

The building was acquired by Opus North and FRE UK having identified an acute shortage of premium office space in “one of the UK’s major regional markets”. The site was purchased through FRE UK’s opportunity fund, which recently completed its final close at £180m.

The transformation includes a new facade, complete replacement of the fifth and sixth floors, along with the addition of a sky lounge which offers a unique communal space for occupants, a “state-of-the-art” cycle spa and extensive roof terraces. All mechanical and electrical elements of the building have been replaced.

The redevelopment has also achieved a 14 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, 29 per cent less energy consumption for heating and cooling, and 42 per cent less water consumption.

The scheme has been awarded with a BREEAM Excellent rating, the second most prestigious score available, which will place it in the top 10 per cent of buildings for best practice.

Alongside its market-leading sustainability credentials, the Grade A property boasts ‘smart’ building technology and has just received a Wired Score Platinum rating. Smart sensors will also aid fresh air management, ensuring that occupiers enjoy access to clean air.

Andrew Duncan, managing director of Opus North commented: “We have created the post Covid-19 contemporary workspace in the heart of Leeds, where technology, open spaces, roof gardens, fresh air management, combined with an exemplary approach to customer service, ensuring that we are the best-in-class office product in the city.”

“We have challenged our design team of market-leading consultants to innovate and think outside the box to ensure we’re not just ploughing the same old furrow and doing what’s been done before. We have embraced the current climate, rolled with the changes and now we are launching the future of the post-pandemic workplace.”