SUSTAINABLE OFFICES v4.qxp_Layout 2 25/03/2022 17:45 Page 1
BUSINESS NEWS
One of a kind
Later this year, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings is opening its doors in Finzels Reach. Occupying nearly two thirds of the seven-storey modern marvel is international law firm, Osborne Clarke. As it prepares to move its 600-strong team into the new build, we sit down with the head of the Bristol office, Lara Burch...
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our years in the making and one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings is about to open its doors in Bristol’s award-winning Finzels Reach. Designed with people and business in mind, the landmark seven-floor 116,113 sq ft Grade A office development, which has been constructed on the former site of Avon Fire & Rescue, will house around 1,000 staff members from occupiers including international legal firm, Osborne Clarke. The Bristol founded law firm will relocate its 600-strong team from its Temple Quay office into the smart workspace, occupying the top five of seven floors, including the private roof terrace. The development, known as Halo, is setting new standards of sustainability for offices in Bristol and beyond. Property developer and urban regenerator Cubex, which bought the site in the summer of 2018 on behalf of Fiera Real Estate Opportunity Fund IV (UK), worked hard to ensure Halo met the tough new sustainability assessment criteria. As a result, Halo is set to be awarded a BREEAM Outstanding 2018 sustainability accreditation. In addition to its stand-out environmental credentials, the development also features cutting-edge digital connectivity – recognised with the highest ‘Wired’ Platinum score. What’s more, Halo has been designed to prioritise the wellbeing of its occupants and will be one of the UK’s first properties to achieve WELL Core Building certification. Finzels Reach: a thriving new neighbourhood Finzels Reach has seen massive development in recent years. Located in central Bristol, a stone’s throw from the floating harbour and in walking distance from Cabot Circus and Temple Meads, it was once home to one of the largest sugar refineries in England. Now, over 3,000 people live and work in the 4.7-acre mixed-use community. Renowned national and international companies have set up permanent residence, including Channel 4, Historic England and English Heritage, Simmons & Simmons, Barclays, EDF and Bafta-winning BDH Creative. Most notably, Bristol’s first BREEAM Outstanding 2014 commercial office space, Aurora, is situated directly opposite the new build, perfectly mirroring Halo’s spectacular seven-storey glass atrium. The city’s first Build to Rent scheme, Hawkins and George, is also just a few steps away. Osborne Clarke: the leading technology law firm Osborne Clarke has a long history in Bristol, stretching back to 1748. September 2019 marked 50 years since two of the oldest law 58 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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APRIL 2022
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No 209
firms in Bristol – Osborne Ward and Clarke Gwynn & Press – merged to create the firm it is today. From the very beginning, however, Osborne Clarke has been embedded within the local community, engaging in what would now be called environmental, social, and governance activity. Ahead of Halo’s official opening, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the head of Osborne Clarke’s Bristol office, Lara Burch. We chatted to her about how the development’s modern features will not only complement the future-focused brand, but cement its reputation as being a leading technology law firm. It was, after all, one of the UK’s first law firms to open an office in Silicon Valley 20 years ago. “ESG is a key pillar of our 2025 strategy,” says Lara. “We've always had a culture of giving and we are now making that a central part of our strategy as a business, alongside our continued determination on minimising our environmental impact.” Halo: sustainability at its heart A corkscrew-like staircase rises up through the grandly proportioned multi-floor lobby, natural light floods the open spaces and an expansive glazed façade creates an instant spectacle in the neighbourhood. Halo indubitably offers a refined refuge from the urban flow. What makes this sustainable development so fascinating, however, is that every detail has been so carefully
