We are planting a new lease of life in Southampton, with the announcement of a £3.5m investment to transform landmark development Nelson Gate into The Bulb – an iconic STEM-led community workspace.
Part of the transformation project was the unique opportunity for everyone to have a say in how The Bulb looks, with the exterior of the building being radically transformed with the creation of the UK’s largest ‘clean air mural’, by one of the most fascinating and prolific street artists of the 21st century, Nerone.
Three designs were created, with an online vote selecting Mural 2 - which is being created using special Graphenstone C02 absorption paint. It is estimated that the annual amount of CO2 absorbed by The Bulb mural will be around 65kg per year - equivalent to three mature adult trees.
Frobisher House, which forms part of Nelson Gate, has been transformed into six floors of prime office accommodation, including 40,000 sq ft of brand-new Cat A space - providing a high quality, modern finish with the facilities required from the modern workplace.
With spaces tailored to suit all sizes of business – from start-ups to major corporations – The Bulb will bring together like-minded businesses, with a target to incubate and futureproof local careers, in line with the job requirements of tomorrow.
Tim Knowles, Founder and Managing Director at FI Estate Management, commented: “We are truly excited about The Bulb – not least the fact that we’re offering everyone the chance to have a say in how this iconic landmark will look.
“We feel ‘The Bulb’ is a valuable addition to the Southampton office market, and its central location makes it ideal for companies working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to attract the fantastic talent pool in the city and beyond.”
Ryan Barber, Head of Office at FI Real Estate Management, added: “STEM jobs are growing faster than any other job sector and are projected to continue to do so; we believe creating a STEM-led development in Southampton is key to bringing like-minded businesses together - providing a focal point for technology-driven collaboration and fostering a culture of innovation.”
Nella Pang of Omega RE and Andy Hodgkinson Lambert Smith Hampton are acting as joint agents for the office space.
For more information go to thebulbsouthampton.co.uk
