Coworking space provider Block will open its first Manchester site at Karrev’s £35 million Sunlight House refurbishment project.
Block has signed a 20-year lease across 25,000 square feet, taking the first and second floors of the Grade A offices where they expect to open in the third quarter next year.
Karrev said there was an eight-way pitch process for the space but chose Block for its “experience with heritage buildings and an alignment of company values”.
Sunlight House will be the coworking provider's flagship North West scheme, adding to its existing sites in Bristol, Birmingham, Exmouth, Plymouth and Taunton.
Its Manchester location will have 331 desks and meeting spaces, with members also able to use building amenities such as the in-house gym and yoga studio, cycle storage and shower facilities.
Since completing in October, Karrev has let around half of the 195,000-square-foot building that it acquired with joint venture partner Kinrise in 2022 for £42 million.
Block follows the recent signings of Pins Social Club and Joe & the Juice at the development, who will occupy basement and ground-floor leisure spaces.
A government occupier, understood to be the Crown Prosecution Service, also took 22,000 square feet of offices at the development in August across the seventh and eighth floors.
Benn Dickinson, leasing director at Karrev, said in a statement: "The addition of Block to Sunlight House’s tenant roster is one that aligns cohesively with our strategy to deliver a best-in-class occupier experience.
"From the very beginning of our renovation project, we have positioned our occupiers as a priority, which includes responding to modern workplace needs and providing a flexible space for businesses of all sizes to thrive.
"We’ve seen the global flex market grow from £37 billion to £200 billion in the last five years, it is evident that there is demand for flexible co-working space and partnering with Block to deliver this only strengthens our offering moving forward.”
Block managing director Ben Cheriton added: "Sunlight House is the perfect fit for our business as we expand into the North. We were particularly drawn to the building due to its unique blend of historic character and modern workspace as the recent transformation makes Sunlight House an ideal home for our community.
"We look forward to welcoming members next year and becoming part of such a vibrant and evolving part of the city.”
Canning O’Neill represented Block.