A prime City office block completed during the pandemic has reached more than half occupancy, after financial services group Dolfin Financial signed as its latest tenant.
The seven-storey building at 77 Coleman Street, EC2, which is owned by Kajima, was finished last summer but has already filled more than half of its space, in the latest sign that high-quality City offices remain in demand despite uncertainty in the sector.
Dolfin has taken 8,100 sq ft on the sixth floor at a rent understood to be between £70 and £80 per sq ft. EG understands that the second and third floors are also under offer to another bidder, meaning the building could hit 75% occupancy imminently.
Sources close to the deal have touted 77 Coleman as a bellwether for the prime City office market, with observers watching closely as to how a newly launched building fares during the pandemic.
Alex Parsons, investment and development manager at Kajima Properties, said: “Despite forecasts of continued home working and a decreased emphasis on the office by businesses, this milestone is indicative of sustained and robust demand for prime London office space.”
Even with an expected shift to a hybrid working model, occupiers “still need to plan for that peak demand as if you were always back in the office”, she added. “Buildings will have to work harder in future, but 77 Coleman offers more flexible space.”
Designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman, the 83,000 sq ft office and retail scheme sits near Moorgate Tube station. French asset manager Amundi signed for three floors at the building last year.
CBRE and BH2 are the letting agents for the office space.
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