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Graeme Nisbet: Why Aberdeen offices may be about to lose their ceilings

Is The Exchange 2 building in Aberdeen ahead of the game by leaving its service ducts exposed? Image: FG Burnett
Is The Exchange 2 building in Aberdeen ahead of the game by leaving its service ducts exposed? Image: FG Burnett

Aberdeen offices may be about to lose their ceilings, leaving service ducts exposed. Graeme Nisbet, director at property firm FG Burnett, explains why.

It is not every day an occupier will consider an exposed services finish for their office.

Currently, examples of this in the Aberdeen commercial property market are thin on the ground.

But this type of accommodation is becoming increasingly common in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and even more so in cities elsewhere in the UK.

Graeme Nisbet, of FG Burnett. Image: FG Burnett

Fit-out and interiors specialists are behind a raft of new office design features.

They are working in tandem with electrical and mechanical engineers to find different ways to not only present new office space and offer a unique selling point, but also to make sure building management system potential is maximised and not compromised.

An exposed services refurbishment can breathe new life into older office stock and set it apart from most of the competition.

Relaxation area In modern office with exposed services. Image: Shutterstock

Some people may think this type of space is attractive only to technology-driven occupiers.

But this is absolutely not the case – over the past few years businesses taking up this type of space include many non-tech and professional service occupiers as they strive to offer a different working environment for their employees.

What are the benefits?

Exposed services accommodation offers a range of advantages.

These include:

  • Increased natural lighting and hot air having somewhere to travel – an exposed ceiling offers heat or cooling dispersion
  • Office suites with lower floor-to-ceiling heights traditionally feel smaller and more cramped
  • Exposed ceilings offer you the opposite, with rooms appearing larger and having additional flexibility
  • They also create a slight “industrial” feel, while ducting and plant features provide a natural working environment

The Exchange 2 building on Market Street, Aberdeen, is a classic example where a landlord has seized the opportunity to refurbish office space and introduce exposed services.

The available accommodation ranges from 3,843-15,462sq ft over four floors, with unprecedented views over the harbour.

Refurbishment project team members faced several challenges, all of which were overcome to provide a step change in accommodation.

If demand follows that seen in other regional cities around the UK, as it tends to do, we are onto a winner.”

The space now comprises fully refurbished, open-plan office suites.

Two floors feature a Cat A+ fit-out, known as “plug-and-play” accommodation.

The top floor also offers “plug and play” capability and super-fast broadband.

It remains to be seen if exposed services refurbishment is the way to go in Aberdeen.

But if demand follows that seen in other regional cities around the UK, as it tends to do, we are onto a winner.

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