LJ Group appoints OBI Property
Family office investor LJ Group has appointed a team to work on its portfolio of properties on Albert Square, Manchester. OBI Property has been appointed to interior design and project manage and lease the multi million pound refurbishment of the four buildings, with JLL as joint leasing agent and Knight Frank as managing agents.
LJ Group purchased the four buildings from Wrather & Co for £16.3 million in an off-market deal earlier in 2015.
The four buildings are:
- The Victoria Buildings – 19,215 sq ft
- Northern Assurance Buildings – 28,788 sq ft
- 2 Mount Street –18,569 sq ft
- St Andrew’s Chambers, Mount Street – 4,383 sq ft
The buildings total approximately 71,000 sq ft, with 44,000 sq ft consisting of offices across the four properties and a mix of retail and restaurant units on the ground floors.
OBI’s award winning interior design team have been appointed to bring the Grade II listed buildings back to life, enhancing the stunning listed features whilst modernising the office space to appeal to forward thinking occupiers looking for contemporary space.
Sam Lawson Johnston, director, LJ Group, said: “By purchasing these four buildings it immediately provides us with a critical mass of accommodation within one of the most prominent and well recognised areas of Manchester. We intend to create a range of design-led workspaces to accommodate entrepreneurs seeking a single desk through to businesses requiring a headquarters building. These Listed buildings are of historical importance and we intend to retain their character while modernising the office space, incorporating the latest technology to ensure they are super connected and appealing to leading regional, national and international businesses.”
Dominic Horridge, director, OBI Property said: “We’re delighted to be working with LJ Group on these four fantastic buildings and relish the challenge of creating modern, flexible, contemporary workspace and communal areas in these historic properties. We’ve had a lot of experience in this field, having worked on office design and fit-out of Sevendale House in the Northern Quarter and Sunlight House on Deansgate to name just a few.”
Elaine Duffy partner at Knight Frank added: “This is a strategically important addition to our portfolio. Our customer-focused management approach will complement our client’s management and letting strategy in line with the refurbishment proposals.”
The appointment was reported by Place North West, Manchester Evening News and TheBusinessDesk