Inside CBRE’s new net-zero Glasgow HQ

When CBRE’s new Glasgow office hosted the firm’s internal broadcast this week, staff from around the world tuned in for a glimpse of its space inside the net-zero 177 Bothwell Street development – one of the world’s first SmartScore-certified buildings. The broadcast more often comes from London’s Henrietta House, W1, but UK and Ireland divisional president Ciaran Bird had good reason to celebrate with his colleagues in the west of Scotland. They have also been welcoming a stream of visitors from Glasgow’s landlord and developer community, eager to see what CBRE has done on the inside of the only building in the city which could meet its own ESG goals, said David Smith, managing director of CBRE Scotland. Almost 400 CBRE staff have relocated to the 18,000 sq ft ground floor of the office, developed by HFD Group, on a hybrid-working model. The fit-out CBRE pulled together a multi-disciplinary team from across the globe to ready the space. It has been designed by colleagues in Madrid, bringing knowledge and expertise of offices around EMEA and Asia Pacific. “Our team then stepped in and fitted-out the entire office, from seating arrangements to ensuring the process was ESG-compliant, providing best-in-class workplace solutions,” said Alex Noyce, business unit director in the global workspace solutions team. The fit-out includes 178 workstations with screens, plus 12 laptop stations, nine meeting rooms, six ‘focus’ rooms, and three ‘huddle’ zones with large screens, as well as client areas and more relaxed staff areas. Work by young artists was selected for meeting room walls through a competition launched with Glasgow School of Art. A ‘mud’ wall, which goes through the whole office and is proving to be one of the favourite features, reflects the red and blonde sandstone of Glasgow’s beloved tenements. As well as the SmartScore certification, which recognises technologically advanced smart buildings, CBRE’s ESG team is currently targeting BREEAM Excellent and WELL Platinum accreditations for its fit-out of the new office. “The platinum accreditation will probably take another six to nine months,” said Smith. “Speaking as an occupier, it’s quite an undertaking. It’s much more than just offering a gym. I would tell other occupiers to go for it, but to be aware that it takes up resources. You really must commit to it.” The certification (from bronze through to platinum) – from the International Well Building Institute – is intended as a ‘roadmap’ for creating spaces that advance human health and wellbeing. Certification requires projects to pursue features or strategies across 10 areas including air, water, thermal comfort, light, movement, nourishment, sound, mind, community and materials. That led to detailed discussions about the food CBRE brings into the building for staff, said Smith. Sadly, putting fresh fruit and veg into the vending machines had to be ruled out, however, in favour of more practical fruit baskets. The city’s largest office building produces zero carbon emissions through using fully electric, renewable power – a must given CBRE’s 2021 commitment to achieving net zero by 2040. Its wellness amenities include a rooftop terrace and running track, a fitness studio and spa-quality changing facilities. With such top-notch credentials and a dearth of comparable space in the city, it is small wonder that the 300,000 sq ft building is fully-let and was snapped up by Spanish investment firm Pontegadea for £215m last year. Tenants include HFD and BNP Paribas. Coming together Crucially for CBRE, the move has created a single base for people previously spread across two city-centre offices and one out-of-town office: including the advisory services team, the property management accounting team and the global workplace solutions team, creating a new major central hub in the West of Scotland. The firm is believed to be paying around £32.50 per sq ft. Since the phased move of staff began in December, Smith said people have been using the office much more than previously. “I don’t know if that’s a statement on the previous offices,” he said. “But people are attending more. Equally, it’s designed so that we can’t accommodate everybody, all day, every day.” Bringing teams from split sites together already feels beneficial, added Smith, who, together with Chris Dougray, sold investment and development advisory business Dougray Smith to CBRE a year ago. “You can definitely feel that it’s much easier to collaborate,” he said. “And it shows you the scale of the business.” He added that there is now much more awareness and growing collaboration between advisory services and facilities management, for example. An occupier’s eyes As a development and investment specialist himself, Smith, who joined after the new office was signed for, said the experience of the move has given him invaluable insight into how it feels to be the occupier. “If you’re advising an occupier, it’s really about how much space you want; what’s your budget; how many people; how many meeting rooms. But as an occupier, it’s much more about the culture you want to create. How do you want people to work together? That’s where our global workspace solutions experts come in,” he said. “It’s like looking at everything through a different pair of glasses.” To send feedback, e-mail julia.cahill@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGJuliaC or @EGPropertyNews Photos © CBRE