Ramboll relocates Manchester office to Arkwright House

15 June 2018 Consultancy.uk

Engineering consultancy Ramboll has announced it is relocating its 60-strong Manchester team to the Grade II Listed Arkwright House. The move comes after the completion of a £16 million refurbishment of the property, and will see Ramboll inhabit the penthouse office suite in the newly revamped location.

Global professional services firm Ramboll specialises in design, engineering and environmental services. Founded in Denmark in 1945, the company employs more than 13,000 people globally, in 300 offices across 35 countries. The firm’s strongest representation is found in the Nordics, along with the UK, North America, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

While the relocation of its 60 Manchester-based staff to the landmark Grade II Listed Arkwright House, located in Manchester’s city centre, seems a long way from the firm’s roots, according to Colliers International, which advised on the deal, it represents a neat return to its Scandinavian origins. The global real estate services company worked to advise Ramboll on a 10-year lease at the location.

Jonathan Stirzaker-Philips, Project Manager at Colliers International, said, “Ramboll chose the penthouse floor of this prestigious office building, so the fit-out had to match up to its impressive surroundings. Working closely with Ramboll and interior designers, Paragon, we oversaw the creation of a space with a ‘Scandi-cool’ aesthetic which fits perfectly with Ramboll’s Scandinavian heritage and the energy of their local team.”

Overlooking the prestigious Parsonage Gardens, off Deansgate, Arkwright House was already situated in a prominent position within Manchester’s heart. However, having recently undergone a £16 million refurbishment, the locale is also equipped with the latest standards in office design. This is thanks in part to Ramboll’s own work, as since announcing the decision to relocate the Manchester team to Arkwright House last year, Ramboll and the wider project team have been working to complete the internal fit-out of the 7,000 square feet penthouse office suite, ready for its occupation in June 2018.

Matthew Riley, Managing Director for Ramboll, commented on the team’s new home, “With its floor to ceiling glazing and fantastic views across the city, Arkwright House was the natural choice for our new Manchester base and reflects our continued growth and investment in the area. The project team for our move, managed by Colliers International, has worked hard to understand our requirements as a business and cater for the needs of our people, creating an environment which will support the productivity and growth of our business.”

Ramboll Group posted solid financial results in its latest book year, with revenue of up to €1.44 billion and profitability at the highest level in the company’s history. The new office in Manchester will also help to improve the firm’s ability to deal with heightened client demand there, while placing the firm in a prime location to interface with new companies as well.