HBD (part of Henry Boot) and Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), have announced Arcadis has signed up to Island, the joint venture’s 100,000 sq. ft net zero carbon, smart-enabled office scheme in Manchester city centre.
Arcadis has taken the 1st floor, measuring 10,300 sq. ft, on a 10-year lease and has agreed a new headline rental for Manchester city centre of £48 per sq. ft. The deal sees Arcadis relocate its 350 employees from two separate offices across the city into one commercial space. By bringing together teams from Piccadilly Place and Dantzic Street, Arcadis is uniting its consultant and Architecture & Urbanism (A&U) colleagues under one roof, fostering greater collaboration and a vibrant new chapter for its Manchester team.
Island is already home to Virgin Media O2, which signed a 46,000 sq. ft pre-let on a 10-year lease and is now fully operational. Completed less than 12 months ago, only three floors of workspace remain offering a total of 30,000 sq. ft. Island also has strong interest in its ground floor retail accommodation from local independent operators.
Designed by Cartwright Pickard and built by Bowmer + Kirkland, Island has achieved an array of sustainability credentials, including BREEAM Excellent, an EPC A rating and a 5* NABERS Independent Design Review rating.
Speaking about Arcadis’s decision to move to Island, Rob Sale and Mike Richardson, Manchester Office Directors at Arcadis, said:
“As a global consultancy, it’s essential that our workplace reflects the same commitment to net zero, climate resilience, and rigorous ESG standards that we deliver for our clients. Island’s smart infrastructure and integrated sustainability technologies will help us advance our ambitious environmental goals. In addition, its exceptional communal and flexible spaces are designed to foster creativity, connectivity, and wellbeing among our teams, clients, and partners. This move not only supports our people but also demonstrates our ongoing investment in Manchester’s future.
Hamer Boot, Managing Director at HBD, commented: “Having delivered Island on a speculative basis, it is extremely rewarding to attract an occupier of Arcadis’ calibre – an organisation which clearly recognises and values the benefits of sustainable and wellbeing focussed workspace.”
“This deal shows the continued flight to quality of companies looking to invest in their people by providing them with best-in-class workspaces. Both Virgin Media O2 and Arcadis have chosen to consolidate their operations at Island, drawn by its collaborative environment and a workplace design that places employee health and wellbeing at its core. We’ll be working closely with Arcadis on the fit out of their space, with the aim of being operational by the end of the year.”
Jonathan Stanlake at CBRE, property advisors to GMPF, added: “This represents another excellent addition to the Island community and leaves just three floors remaining, with strong interest in the remaining space. As a fund that prides itself on identifying and investing in opportunities that support employment creation and economic growth in the North-West region, we are delighted to be welcoming Arcadis as it enters its next phase of expansion in Manchester.”
OBI and CBRE are joint agents for Island.
Arcadis was advised by Knight Frank.