ON WEDNESDAY evening (24 May) more than 150 staff and special guests of law firm Shoosmiths gathered to celebrate with jazz and cocktails at the official opening of the firm’s new office within the £350m mixed use development at 1 Haymarket Square in Edinburgh’s west end.
Shoosmiths, that has enjoyed rapid growth and consolidation in Scotland since it came north of the border through a merger with Edinburgh-based Archibald, Campbell and Harley in 2012, was the first tenant to move into Haymarket Square in April. The law firm has agreed a 15-year lease with property developer Qmile Group for 16,383sq ft of modern office space on the second floor.
Janette Speed, real estate partner and head of Scotland for Shoosmiths, commented: “I am very proud to welcome our colleagues and guests to Shoosmiths’ new, cutting-edge office space in Scotland’s capital city. Close to key transportation links, our office is designed specifically to meet the needs of the hybrid working environment and is ideal for collaborative working and socialisation.
“Together with our colleagues in Glasgow and throughout the UK, we will use this innovative space, that conforms to high environmental standards, to continue to provide first class specialist legal expertise to our local, national and international client base.”
Shoosmiths opening of its new Edinburgh office space also comes just 18 months after colleagues in Glasgow moved into their new c.5000sq ft of leased office space at The Garment Factory on Montrose Street in the heart of Glasgow’s innovation district.
Qmile Group’s Haymarket Edinburgh development, designed by globally renowned architects Foster + Partners, comprises 380,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in three buildings. All the buildings are expected to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A ratings.
The environmental specification of the office space at Haymarket Square complements Shoosmiths’ own Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.
Designed with a strong focus on the natural environment and occupier wellbeing, the office accommodation offers a wide range of health and wellbeing amenities, including smart building technology, extensive cycle storage and EV charging points. A hotel, shops and leisure facilities is being configured around a significant landscaped public realm for the benefit of the local community and business district.
