The latest prestigious city centre office development in Aberdeen has received its project completion certificate.
Bosses at Muse Developments hope the £107million Marischal Square scheme, adding nearly 175,000sq ft of new office accommodation in the heart of the Granite City, will play a key part in regenerating the area.
Stephen Turner, the firm’s regional director for Scotland, said: “It’s good to get the building back from the contractor, and I am delighted with what we have.
“I am also confident that we have got the best building in town and in a great location.”
A four-star Residence Inn by Marriott is already open for business on the site, with ice-cream firm Mackie’s of Scotland due to open a shop there early next month.
Several firms have committed to moving into the development, including Costa, Prezzo and All Bar One, while Aberdeen Journals – publisher of both the Evening Express and the Press and Journal – is still in talks.
The latest tenant signed up is Italian restaurant chain Tony Macaroni.
Mr Turner said interest in the remaining office space was “encouraging,” adding that some of it was being sub-divided to appeal to a wide range of potential tenants looking for high-quality accommodation.
Most of the interest is coming from the wider service sector, rather than the oil and gas industry and its supply chain, though the North Sea market “seems to be picking up”, he said.
He added: “Our project is a great keystone for the Aberdeen city centre masterplan.
“The aim is to generate new interest in an area of town that was, perhaps, slightly tired or run down.”
Muse, which is part of construction giant Morgan Sindall, works with landowners and the public sector to bring about sustainable regeneration and urban renewal through mixed-use developments around the UK.
To date, it has delivered more than 16million sq ft of commercial and residential property.