Gardiner & Theobald signs for 54,939 sq ft London HQ at 30 Finsbury Square

Gardiner & Theobald has signed a lease with MEAG, the asset manager of Munich Re Group, for a new London headquarters of 54,939 sq ft at 30 Finsbury Square, London EC2.

The consultancy, known as G&T, said it will take three and a half floors of the multi-tenanted office building, which is still under development. The lease starts in 2028 and the firm plans to move in during the third quarter of 2029.

G&T said the decision followed a review of its future workplace requirements and a search for an office that would support its growth and changing ways of working. It said 30 Finsbury Square was chosen for its location, transport connectivity, sustainability credentials, quality of workspace and wellbeing facilities.

Adam Glover, Managing Partner of G&T, said: "Securing our new headquarters at 30 Finsbury Square is an important milestone for G&T and a significant investment in our future."

The building

According to G&T's release, the building totals 122,000 sq ft across lower ground, ground and eight upper floors. Its amenities include biodiverse landscaping, a winter garden, a roof terrace, a wellbeing suite and end-of-journey facilities, and it is targeting several sustainability accreditations. BDP, which was appointed to carry out a planning-led feasibility study for the refurbishment, gives a figure of 136,400 sq ft on its project page.

MEAG announced on 5 September 2024 that it had received planning permission from the London Borough of Islington Council for the refurbishment and extension. The consented scheme is a nine-storey commercial office building.

Dr Stefan Haas, Board Member and Global Head of Real Estate of MEAG, said: "Their decision to make our development their future London headquarters is a strong endorsement of the quality of the development and the workplace we are creating."

The timetable

G&T said construction at 30 Finsbury Square is expected to complete in summer 2027, about two years before the firm intends to occupy its floors. In the meantime it will continue to operate from 10 South Crescent in Bloomsbury until its lease there ends in 2029.

G&T's own London location page says its South Crescent base houses a workforce of more than 1,000 people and that the London office delivers more than £10bn of construction work a year.

Founded in 1835, G&T describes itself as a construction and property consultancy with more than 1,500 professionals providing cost management, project management and specialist consultancy. It operates from offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Ireland.

MEAG said it manages assets of about €371bn, including around €63bn for investors outside Munich Re Group.

The advisers

G&T was advised by Squarebrook as agents and Eversheds Sutherland as lawyers. MEAG was advised by Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank as agents, Michelmores and Simmons&Simmons as lawyers, and CBRE Project Management.

G&T said it would now work with MEAG on its occupancy strategy ahead of the lease start in 2028.