The doors to the North East’s ‘smartest office’ have opened in Newcastle city centre following a £30m construction project.
One Strawberry Lane has taken more than three years to take shape, but has now welcomed workers who can take advantage of its colourful breakout spaces, cafe, meeting pods and open plan workspaces. The building is one of only 80 buildings in the world to receive Smartscore certification – the highest possible global accreditation for modern buildings – making it the most technologically advanced in the region.
It was developed by Ask Real Estate and built by BAM Construction, creating or sustaining around 400 construction and supply chain jobs. The building was designed by Ryder Architecture and DLA Architecture, while interior designers Overbury were enlisted to carry out the internal fit out.
Read more: Dragons' Den success Grow Sow Simple trebles turnover - before TV deal completes
Home Group, one of the UK’s largest housing associations, first revealed designs for the building in 2019, and has now moved in to most of the five-storey, 70,000-sq ft space, in a move from its current base on the edge of the city, bringing around 700 of its 3,500 workforce into the building. Two of the five floors are also being let to external organisations, with law firm Armstrong Watson becoming one of the first when it moves in this spring.
Described as the city’s first ‘plug and play office’, all the technology in the building is designed to make life as easy as possible for users to allow more time for improved creativity and productivity.
Home Group directors said that, as well as boosting the city’s daytime and evening economies by around £2.5m per year with the migration of staff into the city centre, One Strawberry Lane aims to be an inclusive space bringing organisations and city stakeholders together.
The building will act as a central hub to support the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE). Connected Voice, which supports the Newcastle and Gateshead VCSE sector, will be central to the hub when they move in this week. Its 800 members will tap into space to start-up or grow, business development support, training and development, as well as funding advice and assistance.
Mark Henderson, chief executive of Home Group, said: “This is a building like no other presently in the city. We are proud to be leading the way for things like SmartScore certification and to deliver the first purpose-built workspace for hybrid working. But, for me, what sets One Strawberry Lane apart above all else is the fact it will be integrated into its environment, working to support and interact with the city’s organisations, businesses and communities.
“Home Group has been rooted in the North East for close to 90 years. We know this region, we know this city and we know its communities. One Strawberry Lane represents Home Group’s absolute determination to be ever closer linked into our communities.
“And I hope our office is the beginning of a trend for city centre offices to be more open and welcoming to their fellow citizens and be a part of a vibrant city culture.”
READ NEXT
- Steep rise in number of North East companies facing 'critical financial distress'
- New Tyneside hospitality group launched by The Patricia restaurateur and tech entrepreneur
- People on the move: Top North East appointments and promotions
North East companies called on to contribute to skills initiative led by Chamber
Australian start-up tables bid for Britishvolt to revive £3.8bn gigafactory ambitions
