Knight Frank wins major contract to manage flagship Sunderland building

Knight Frank has won a major property management contract to run Sunderland’s brand new City Hall, creating six new jobs.

Sunderland City Council has appointed Knight Frank to manage its newly-completed 191,000 sq. ft. civic and office building at its ambitious regeneration scheme, Riverside Sunderland.

A building manager, Colin Higgins, and an occupier experience manager, Laura Kerry, and four building hosts – who will greet visitors on foot in the foyer, rather than at a traditional, fixed reception desk – have been appointed.

City Hall is the city’s new civic building and will be home to Sunderland City Council as well as a range of support organisations. There are also Grade A offices available to let – from 3,500 sq. ft. to 22,000 sq. ft. – via property agents Knight Frank and BNP Paribas.

Amenities open to the public include a café, rehydration stations, events space, council chambers, meeting rooms and computers. Other facilities, available to tenants, include a wellness suite, cycle & shower facilities, a business lounge and offices.

Head of Office and partner at Knight Frank, Peter Bowden, said: “Obviously, we are delighted to be appointed and very much look forward to working with Sunderland City Council to ensure City Hall – which is a flagship building and the front door for further investment in the city – is presented in the best possible light, at all times.”

Knight Frank also manages the 60,000 sq. ft. Beam office building which is next door to City Hall. Both buildings are part of a mixed-use development situated on the former Vaux Breweries site.

Knight Frank Newcastle’s property asset management team is the largest in the region and manages just under 20m sq. ft. of commercial space in the north east comprising industrial estates, including Team Valley, offices, business parks and shopping centres.

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Its Newcastle office has a 76-strong team who provide property management, office and industrial buildings agency, building consultancy, ratings and lease advisory and property valuations.