Colmore tower signs up video games developer
VIDEO games developer and publisher Facepunch Studios has become the latest company to take space at a new Birmingham office tower.
The business has agreed a deal for the entire eighth floor of 103 Colmore Row, having signed a ten-year lease for 12,132 sq ft of space.
Facepunch was founded in 2004 by Garry Newman and is currently based in Walsall.
The company is best known for its multiplayer survival game ‘Rust’, which has sold almost 14 million copies to date, and its other titles include Garry’s Mod, Chippy and Sandbox.
In total, Facepunch has sold more than 38 million games worldwide.
The company is the latest in a long line of businesses to sign deals for office space in the new building including law firm Shoosmiths, property consultancy Knight Frank and financial services firm Grant Thornton.
There is also a members club on
the 18th floor and a flexible workspace hub operated by London firm x+why.
Craig Gwilt, director at Facepunch, said: “We’re really excited to be relocating to 103 Colmore Row.
“Birmingham is the right choice for our expansion plans as there’s an abundance of creative talent in the area we can attract, with excellent transport links for our local, national and international employees and visitors, as well as the local amenities all within easy reach.”
103 Colmore Row, which sits at the famous road’s corner with Newhall Street, has been built by a joint venture of developer Sterling Property Ventures and funder Tristan Capital Partners.
James Howarth, managing director of Sterling Property Ventures, said: “To date, tenants at 103 Colmore Row have been exclusively from the business, professional and financial services sector but we’re thrilled to add a creative, tech-based business to the mix.
“Facepunch’s decision to relocate its studio to 103 Colmore Row has broken the mould for traditional office buildings and demonstrates how they can be utilised by creative and tech businesses.”
Paul Pritchard, executive director at Tristan Capital Partners, added: “The tech world is widely known for its creative workspaces and innovative use of space.
“Appealing to a variety of sectors such as this one is why we have taken a thoughtful approach at 103 Colmore Row to deliver what creative companies require. We hope 103 Colmore Row provides Facepunch with the freedom to stay at the top of its game and grow the business.”
103 Colmore Row is Birmingham’s tallest office building and has 223,631 sq ft of grade A office and workspace.
It has replaced John Madin’s famous NatWest Tower which closed down in 2003 before eventually being demolished in 2016.