Connectivity: the keystone of campuses

COMMENT: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Stanhope and its investor consortium partners started asking prospective occupiers at the then-newly created Chiswick Park in West London to “Enjoy Work”, it made London’s office market stop and take note. Until then the office was where you went to work, with only the most forward-thinking businesses and burgeoning HR teams considering introducing an element of “fun” as essential for retaining and recruiting talent. The idea that work and play could be combined was fairly pioneering, but it didn’t take long for the concept to catch on as increasing numbers of global businesses were drawn to Chiswick Park as a new and exciting exemplar of the new way of working. With this philosophy it was possible to transform a derelict bus depot with strong transport links into a hugely successful business address and lease circa 2m sq ft of office space to some of the biggest global corporate brands. Argent’s King’s Cross will captivate future generations, not least as a new destination for the capital transforming an enclosed, principally industrial, neighbourhood into London’s most vibrant open-house address. Now almost complete, the built environment already serves some 40,000 people who live, work and study there with “user happiness” and satisfaction at the heart of its design – and again some of the best connectivity and transport links in all of London. The traditional understanding of a campus relates to land on which a college or university buildings are situated, and typically includes libraries, lecture halls, halls of residence, student centres or dining halls, and green spaces. It is clear that successful places like Chiswick Park and King’s Cross, while ostensibly places of work, have adopted the key characteristics of a campus in providing a cohesive, purpose-designed environment with an increasingly rich and diverse array of uses and spaces. Sites of scale provide the blueprint for an urban campus, with the opportunity to deliver generous open spaces, and attractive landscaping bringing some lush green to contrast with the surrounding buildings. With wellness in the workplace a non-negotiable for all businesses, these campuses are providing what modern occupiers are demanding. As new campus developments emerge, and established ones evolve, one aspect remains consistent and indeed crucial to their success: excellent connectivity and transport infrastructure. Indeed, the presence of a major train or tube station within a campus plays an important role in helping to promote the location. The arrival of new infrastructure, such as the Elizabeth Line, can be transformative. Places like Canary Wharf are seeing a positive bounce from its opening a few months ago. However, as technologies improve and demand for alternative transport modes increases we will see e-bikes, scooters and even air mobility being introduced to make moving around even better for both workers and visitors. Given one of the secrets to the success of the urban campus is its ability to constantly evolve, we expect to see them further integrate these new transport methods to remain at the forefront of both occupier and employee wishlists. Jon Gardiner is head of central London office leasing at Savills