In the largest new letting in Salford Quays this year, Global projects firm, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), is taking 18,000 sq ft on the top floor of BAM Properties ‘Metro’ office development in Salford Quays. This is the first letting for this landmark building on Trafford Road. SKM is merging its two regional offices in Manchester City centre and Salford Quays and will initially occupy 12,500 sq ft on a 12 year lease and the remainder by late 2013.
Neil Mort, BAM Properties’ northern development manager based in Salford, said: ‘It’s great news for Metro and we are delighted to welcome SKM. It is an indication of the more positive outlook which is emerging within the north-west business community and certainly reflects the increase in the number of serious enquiries we have been receiving.’ The six-storey Metro building comprises a total of 72,500 sq ft and has been designed with a strong ecological ethic and was the first office building outside Manchester City centre to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Joint letting agents CBRE and Canning O’Neill acted for BAM Properties. Metro’s design includes water-saving features, reduced CO2 emissions and low energy consumption. Its lighting is controlled by brightness and motion sensors, which automatically adjust to daylight levels, other environmental features include dedicated recycling stations, bicycle storage and cyclist shower and locker facilities. It has first-class public transport connections as it backs onto the Exchange Quay Metrolink station.There are 227 car spaces at ground and first floor level, and the Grade A offices on the four upper floors provide floor plates of circa 18,000 sq ft. Founded in Australia, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) is a leading projects firm, with global capability in strategic consulting, engineering and project delivery. It operates in three regions: Asia Pacific, the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), deploying some 6,500 people from more than 40 offices while serving the Buildings and Infrastructure, Mining and Metals, Power and Energy and Water and Environment sectors.
