SimpliSafe locks in 7,700 sq ft Manchester office
The smart home security system manufacturer has signed a five-year lease for space on the first and second floors of the AM ALPHA-owned 196 Deansgate.
SimpliSafe’s 7,700 sq ft letting is one of two recent deals at the grade two-listed building – with engineer Harley Haddow taking nearly 1,000 sq ft on the first floor. Harley Haddow’s lease is also for five years.
Both lettings follow a refurbishment programme by AM ALPHA, which acquired the 63,000 sq ft historic Manchester building last summer. The German company purchased the office block from Commercial Estate Group for a figure north of £20m.
AM ALPHA’s refurbishment work also includes 5,000 sq ft on the building’s fourth floor. This has been turned into a plug-and-play space for potential tenants. Other aspects of the programme have included adding a shower area and cycle storage in the building’s basement.
Cushman & Wakefield represented SimpliSafe on its lease agreement. The firm’s Harry Skinner said: “196 Deansgate is the ideal building to accommodate the next phase of growth for SimpliSafe.
“The space provides a high-quality turnkey fit-out requiring minimal capex, and this, combined with the character style of the building, is the perfect fit for our client,” he added.
Canning O’Neill acted for AM Alpha on both the SimpliSafe and Harley Haddow agreements. Director John Nash stated: “We’re very happy to announce these deals and welcome both Harley Haddow and SimpliSafe to the property so soon after AM Alpha acquired the building.
“196 Deansgate is an attractive character property in a popular part of the city centre. The remaining 5,000 sq ft of recently refurbished space is available now, and a further 10,000 sq ft will be available for occupation early next year.”
In addition to Harley Haddow and SimpliSafe, another prominent tenant at the Deansgate building is London steak chain Flat Iron. Flat Iron opened at the space earlier this year, marking its first venture outside of London.
Readers may recognise 196 Deansgate owner AM ALPHA for another building it owns in Manchester – the 300,000 sq ft Rylands Building off Market Street. The investor is aiming to transform the former department store into a series of offices and a shopping arcade. DOMIS is attached as the main contractor, having taken over the role from Russell WBHO.
