FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
New flexible workspace company, Koba, is launching its first UK venture at 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester.
Koba has agreed a partnership lease on a 10-year term with AEW to design, fit-out and operate its inaugural circa 30,000 sq ft location at the flagship 100 Barbirolli Square office building in Manchester City Centre.
The new flex site, to be known as Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square, will operate on Levels 0 & 1 within the 200,000 sq ft, 10 storey Grade A office building whose transformational £30 million investment programme has attracted occupiers including Brabners, Freeths and Stantec.
Koba will take the vacant space and transform it into a dynamic new centre with a host of meeting rooms and spaces for businesses of all sizes. The offering will range from a blend of private office suites that can accommodate companies wanting between 20-200 desks to 4-6 person studios and one-person co-working desks.
The deal marks Koba’s entrance into the flex market following its formation in 2023. Spearheaded by Paul Nellist, Rob Stewart, James Thorne and Tom Beard, Koba creates sustainable workspaces based on evidence and not greenwash. The team is set to announce its second location in the coming weeks.
Paul Nellist, Managing Director, Koba, said: “It was incredibly important to mark the start of Koba’s journey with a venture that enables us to implement our sustainability manifesto and demonstrate that we can create premium workspaces that are demonstrably better for people and the planet.
“Having worked closely with our partners to devise a design framework that focuses on the circular economy, we are excited that our vision will be realised at 100 Barbirolli Square.”
The landlord’s joint agents on 100 Barbirolli Square are OBI and Savills. On behalf of the landlord, Andrew Cowell of OBI commented: “We are thrilled that Koba will be launching at 100 Barbirolli Square this year. Koba’s premium and sustainable offering will deliver a new type of flexible workspace and is set to generate a huge amount of interest in Manchester. Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square will add immense value to the scheme and is an important part of the ongoing activation of the building as it will enhance the amenities available to current and future tenants.”
Works are set to commence on site in the coming weeks with the launch scheduled for early Q4 2024.
As environmental protection demands unified action, transparency, and heightened awareness, Biological Preparations has launched an initiative to catalyse sustainability efforts within the FM sector.
FM businesses face unique challenges and heightened expectations of eco-initiatives from their clients. Yet, behind the scenes in FM businesses, many environmental initiatives, rollouts and even planning, are not broadcasted and transparent.
Have your say: Sustainability Trends in FM
The UK biotech company’s five-minute, anonymous FM-focused survey, offers FM professionals of all hierarchies with a platform to voice their perspectives and share their experiences. The results from this survey will then be analysed and presented as an industry-specific report, which aims to guide FM businesses helping them benchmark trends, gain clarity on industry challenges, and map out goals and metrics towards sustainability.
To share your experiences, please click here.
