PROPERTY group McAleer and Rushe have confirmed new tenants for its £85 million Ewart office development in Belfast city centre.
AXA Insurance and recruitment consultancy MCS Group are the latest to take up floors on the 210,000 sq ft high rise development on Bedford Street.
Deloitte have already taken 81,000 sq ft, including the 15th and 16th floors at the top of the 69 metre office building.
AXA, MCS and Evelyn Partners have each taken a floor (11,484 sq ft).
The listing website for The Ewart indicates leases on another two floors have also been agreed.
It leaves just six of the 16 floors of the development now vacant.
The Co Tyrone developer is now in the final phase of the restoration of the grade B+ listed former Ewart warehouse, which sits at the front of the modern new build tower behind.
Welcoming AXA and MCS Group to the building, Stephen Surphlis, managing director of the McAleer and Rushe development arm MRP, said: “This level of demand for The Ewart, which we are confident will continue in the weeks ahead, is a testament to the innovative, sustainable and high-quality features within the iconic building, which is now one of the most sought-after office spaces in the city.
“We are extremely proud of the role that our team has played in re-establishing this prominent address in the Linen Quarter and offering the market a truly unique proposition of the heritage of a listed building with that of a modern new build grade A office.”
The chief executive off AXA Insurance, Philip Bradley, said: “Belfast has been an important location for AXA Insurance for many years and plays a vital role in supporting our customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
“AXA Insurance employs over 700 people across Northern Ireland and today’s announcement regarding our new offices in the landmark Ewart building is further evidence of our commitment to Belfast. We look forward to many productive years helping to support our growing customer base from this fabulous new building.”
Robert Ditty of CBRE, the leasing agent for The Ewart, added: “The Ewart is an outstanding office development with digitally connected and sustainable office accommodation which is a great fit for the vision of many businesses in Northern Ireland.
“It is clear the opportunities this new workspace presents to companies investing and relocating in Belfast, with its contemporary design and extensive wellbeing facilities, is a major reason why the building is proving so popular with the business community.
“Coming as it does against the backdrop of a difficult post pandemic period for office space in the city centre the success of The Ewart says a lot about the quality of the workspace within the building.”
