Hines has let the last of its Grainhouse space as it opens the doors of its new European HQ in Covent Garden, W1.
Hines will be joined by a fashion and beauty company, which has taken a 10-year lease on 24,500 sq ft on two of the lower office floors. The remaining office space will be occupied by attraction pass business Go City, which signed a 10-year lease for 6,568 sq ft.
The developer has taken three floors of the five-level Grainhouse, a 91,000 sq ft former Victorian seed warehouse, which is formed from five interlinking buildings.
Caravan will be opening a two-floor, 6,200 sq ft restaurant next month.
The site was bought by Hines’ European Value Fund 2 in March 2020 and has since been converted into a prime office and retail scheme, designed by Barr Gazetas.
Grainhouse will now be home to Hines’ investment and operational teams for both the European region and its British business, as well as its property management business, Helix.
Helix has signed a separate 15-year lease for 5,000 sq ft.
The building has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent, WELL Platinum and WiredScore certification, and is targeting net zero in its operations.
Lars Huber, chief executive at Hines Europe, said: “Our new European headquarters at Grainhouse will provide us with a strong base in which we can continue to focus on the growth trajectory of our European and UK businesses.
Paul White, HEVF 2 fund manager, said: “Fully pre-leasing our office space above the original underwriting is the best testament to the strength and quality of the space we have delivered.”
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