Our objective has been to position Portland House as the premier choice for office rental in Newcastle. We have accomplished this through a comprehensive Portland House refurbishment that enhanced the office floorplates and building systems. Additionally, we introduced a new reception area, flexible workspace options, and bookable meeting rooms in Broadcasting House. We also established new end-of-journey facilities in the basement, all contributing to our commitment to sustainable office design.
The reception area at Portland House, a prime example of sustainable office design, plays a crucial role in the overall design approach and sets an inviting tone for tenants and their clients, particularly for those interested in office rental in Newcastle.
The refurbishment works included:
- Demolition of the existing reception
- Extending and re-tanking the concrete slab between the basement and ground floor
- Installation of a new steelwork frame for the façade and roof
- New glass installation for the façade and part of the roof
- A modern M&E system including air conditioning, heating, lighting, and IT infrastructure
- A significant biophilic installation behind the reception desk
- A new post room and Building Management System location.
Office floorplates
To create a modern workplace at Portland House, the old floorplates were entirely stripped out and refurbished, focusing on sustainable office design. Emphasis was placed on maximizing natural light and introducing green elements to improve air quality and tenant wellbeing, making it an ideal option for office rental in Newcastle.
The works included:
New Interface carbon neutral flooring
Repaint using hygroscopic and anti-static Earthborn paints
New Forest Stewardship Council certified door sets
LED lighting on motion sensors
IT infrastructure upgrade
Access control system to provide tenant security
Broadcasting House
As part of the Portland House refurbishment, the listed building was transformed into a communal work-space that is free to use by tenants.
This new space was essential to our goal of providing best-in-class office rental Newcastle, distinguishing us from competitors who do not offer a communal facility of this quality and size.
The refurbishment works included:
- Complete strip out of the existing office space
- Installation of new mechanical and electrical systems including air conditioning, heating, lighting, IT infrastructure, and state-of-the-art AV equipment in the meeting rooms and main area
- A Category B refurbishment that features a new communal space, ‘superloo’ toilets, meeting rooms, and quiet rooms
- Commercial-grade kitchen and catering facilities designed with a residential aesthetic, allowing the space to be used for tenant functions as needed, all while emphasizing sustainable office design.
End-of-journey facilities
To support our commitment to a healthy lifestyle, we have introduced on-site changing facilities in the newly refurbished basement area of the former records room at Portland House. This sustainable office design prioritizes the needs of our tenants by providing exceptional amenities that enhance wellbeing.
Portland House now boasts the largest provision of showers and cycle spaces per square foot in Newcastle, making it an ideal choice for office rental in the city.
The refurbishment works included:
- Removal of the record room storage and fire suppression systems
- Installation of a new drainage system
- Installation of 14 showers (with separate male and female sections) and a DDA compliant shower, each featuring a changing area, seating, clothing peg, and a backlit mirror
- Addition of 63 new lockers, including a DDA specific locker space, designed to accommodate suit and shirt storage
- Male and female vanity units
- New mechanical and electrical installations, including underfloor heating, lighting, and an access control system.
Bike Facilities
The end of journey facilities are essential for office worker requirements, especially in the context of our office rental in Newcastle. We believe the demand for such amenities will increase as more emphasis is placed on sustainable office design and reducing the number of cars in the city center. In line with this vision, we have made a significant investment in the upgraded bike facilities at Portland House refurbishment.
The improvements include:
- 80 new bike racks in a secure basement area
- 6 electric bike charge points
- A state-of-the-art drying room for wet clothes
- A bike maintenance station and bike lock rack
- A purified water point to encourage the reduction of single-use plastic
Core areas
A comprehensive refurbishment of the core areas at Portland House, including the toilets, was undertaken to deliver a seamless journey from reception to suite for tenants seeking office rental in Newcastle. Biophilic wayfinding signage was introduced to complement the reception and the building's broader emphasis on sustainable office design.
The new toilets on each floor are designed to the highest quality and finished to hotel standards, ensuring a premium experience.
The works included:
- Hotel standard new female, male, and DDA compliant toilets on each floor
- Biophilic wayfinding signage
- Refurbished lifts and lift surrounds
- New Interface carbon neutral flooring
- LED lighting on motion sensors
Connectivity
Portland House, a standout in the office rental market in Newcastle, boasts market-leading connectivity that has been strategically cabled throughout the building. This state-of-the-art development has received WiredScore Platinum certification, ensuring top-tier telecommunication capabilities for tenants.
Tenants benefit from dual telecommunication rooms equipped with triple network provisions:
- Aspire ultra-fast dedicated connection (UDC), capable of delivering speeds of up to 100Gbs as the primary connection.
- BT Openreach 1Gb leased line serves as a primary failover, ensuring continuity.
- 5G connectivity acts as an auxiliary failover for additional reliability.
All this cutting-edge connectivity is supported by our UPS and generator systems, highlighting our commitment to sustainable office design and providing the highest speeds along with a dependable connection.
Portland House app
Tenants in our office rental in Newcastle have access to a bespoke building app that eliminates the need for plastic key cards, giving them instant control over room booking, visitor management, and facilities requests. This innovative tool is part of the Portland House refurbishment, which emphasizes sustainable office design. The app also hosts unique negotiated partnerships with local businesses to provide tenants with convenient access to on-site services.
Refurbished Office Newcastle - Portland House
Refurbishment of the Year Winner - North East Property Award
