From Obsolete To Outstanding: Breathing Life into Existing Office Assets

It was a pleasure to take part in the Bisnow UK Office Series: Investment & Development Conference last week.

The theme, “From Obsolete To Outstanding: Breathing Life into Existing Office Assets”, set the tone for a highly engaging discussion on the future of office space and how we can unlock value in existing assets.

Our Director, Anja Schellenbauer, joined the panel alongside Richard Saul (La Caisse) and James Atherton (The Crown Estate), expertly moderated by Karl Strauss (AET Flexible Space).

Key take aways:
- Retrofit success is a balancing act—between sustainability, commercial viability, and occupier appeal.
- The question is often not if a building can be repurposed, but whether it can generate sufficient value.
- Location, good bones and potential for NIA increase are key to repurposing success.
- Value creation solutions need to be tailored to individual assets, but ultimately, desirability and a strong focus on tenant experience generate rental uplift.
- Place making is a powerful value multiplier, creating a more compelling and differentiated product.
- Retrofit projects inevitably present more unknowns than new builds, but early surveys and investigations go a long way to de-risk uncertainty.
- The right team makes all the difference - retrofit projects thrive on collaboration and expertise.

It was fantastic to connect with so many peers across the industry and exchange ideas on the future of office redevelopment.