One of the biggest shipping lines operating into Liverpool, Atlantic Container Line (ACL), has staged an ‘agent’s launch’ to promote office space within its new 90 Duke Street headquarters, in the city’s Rope Walks district.
ACL’s UK managing director Ian Higby said 20,000sq ft of space is available to lease on the ground and first floor of the building, which is Liverpool’s first purpose-built shipping HQ since the development of the Grade II* listed India Buildings in 1924. 90 Duke Street is also the only new build Grade A office building coming onto the Liverpool market this year. ACL, which is part of the Grimaldi Group of Naples, will move 168 staff into the building from its Princes Dock offices in Liverpool in October.
The 40,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent Grade A building ,pictured, is configured over four-storeys with basement car parking, a design that complements and adds to the existing Georgian street scene and provides a contemporary and distinctive façade, in brick, stone and bronze. Real estate and development group Network Space developed the new building on behalf of ACL having originally acquired the derelict buildings and vacant site from the Homes and Communities Agency. Main contractor Wates Construction started on the steel framed building in November 2014, working to a design by architects DLA Design.
Mr Higby said: “90 Duke Street, is one of the best located, best equipped and best designed office buildings in the city. It is right in the heart of a vibrant area on the doorstep of Liverpool One and is ideal for companies wanting an address that speaks volumes for their ambitions. We are looking for businesses to join us, in this exciting new building,who share ACL’s vision to invest in the regeneration of Liverpool and create jobs fortalented local people. ACL has nearly doubled its staff numbers over the last couple of years and we expect further growth with our five new fourth generation container RORO vessels. These ships are coming into service this year and will double ACL’s capacity on the North Atlantic service and are the biggest CONRO ships ever built. “
Jonathan Baucher a partner at commercial property agent Cushman & Wakefield said:
“We are delighted to have attracted a strong level of interest in the scheme already and are currently negotiating terms with several occupiers. The location has evolved considerably over recent years and ACL’s commitment to Duke Street demonstrates the attraction to both the corporate occupier as well as the local SMEs.”
Stephen Barnes, managing director of Network Space, said: “ACL’s commitment to this project and to this part of the city is crucial to the ongoing regeneration of the Rope Walks area. We are delighted to have been able to conceive and deliver such an important development for the city and for one of its key businesses.”
Tony Shenton, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction, North West, said: “It gives us great pride to be delivering a project that will not only help to rejuvenate one of Liverpool’s conservation areas but will also provide exceptional office premises for one the city’s business leaders. The project marks an increase in investment in the city’s commercial property sector. It is therefore not only a significant investment for Network Space and ACL, but also a foundation to support further growth and development for the city of Liverpool.”
The project has been supported with £2.82m ERDF grants and £1.38m Chrysalis funding, as a signal of growing confidence in the city’s maritime sector. The building is already picking up awards winning the Best Commercial Building category at the annual Manchester Society of Architects Awards in 2015. Office space starts from 2700 sq ft. For further details contact Cushman Wakefield Tel: 0151 472 8040
Email: jonathan.baucher@cushwake.com
Download brochure: http://office.cushwakeproperty.co.uk/dynamic/pdf/176647/1/176647-1.pdf
Atlantic Container Line factfile
ACL is a shipping company owned by the Italian Grimaldi Group. The company’s headquarters are in Westfield, New Jersey USA while the European HQ is based in Liverpool, UK. ACL also has offices throughout Europe and North America.
ACL offers five transatlantic sailings each week and is also the Grimaldi North America agent for services between North America and West Africa and between North America and the Mediterranean.
ACL is one of the biggest shipping lines operating into the Port of Liverpool sailing into Royal Seaforth Container Dock. Port operator the Peel Ports Group invested heavily in Royal Seaforth to help accommodate ACL’s new fleet of G4 vessels, creating a dedicated vehicle storage area with sufficient capacity to handle ACL’s current and future cargo requirements, and widening the passage into the dock basin so that the G4s can achieve a 24 hour turnaround.
ACL has operated from Liverpool since 1969. Its service calls into Liverpool twice a week transporting containers and roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) cargo and cars between the UK and North America.
In 2015, ACL’s five new fourth generation (G4) with a gross registered tonnage of 100,430 tons began replacing its existing fleet of third generation (G3). The new ships are named the Atlantic Star, Atlantic Sea, Atlantic Sail, Atlantic Sun and Atlantic Sky.
Each of the five new vessels, which were built in China, can typically carry 3,800 containers, 764 roll-on/roll-off lorries and 1,300 cars. The new vessels carry twice the amount of cargo than the five ships they have replaced.
ACL also offers an oversized cargo service from North America to the Middle East, Far East and Oceania.
ACL was formed in 1965 by a consortium of five shipping companies, Wallenius Lines, Swedish America Line, The Transatlantic Steamship Company and Holland America Line. These were joined by Cunard and CGT in 1967.
Visit: www.aclcargo.com