Archive:New Space 2010

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Since Somerset House is on hold for the foreseeable future a search for a new space to build-out in September 2010 is being held, as another winter at the existing space is undesirable.

Progress

Step Description Target Status
1 Define requirements May 2010 Done
2 Shortlist spaces End May 2010 Started
3 View spaces June 2010 Not started
4 Sign lease Early July 2010 Not started
5 Begin build-out Mid July 2010 Not started
6 Grand opening Early August 2010 Not started

Viewings

Please no more than four people per viewing.

Questions / points of interest
  • Ok with our access policy?
  • Use of the space for light industrial purposes.
  • Us removing carpets/flooring if present.
  • Us putting in partitions (if required).
  • What state they would expect the space to be left in at the end of the contract.
  • Adding in kitchen/sink if plumbing available.
  • What toilet facilities are available.
  • Length of lease.
  • How does rubbish disposal work?

Phase 1

Initial viewings of spaces to decide what is useful to consider or not.

Address Date / Time
The Ivories 2010-05-27 1300
Cremer Business Centre 2010-05-27 1400
131-132 Shoreditch High Street 2010-05-28 1315
Viewers 2010-05-27
Viewers 2010-05-28

Map

Requirements

Venue

Required:

  • At least 1100 sqft.
  • Permanent heating
  • B1 or B2 use class - B1 is probably OK as long as it's not directly next to any residential.
  • Price: Less than £2000/month (£24,000/year), including all charges, excluding rates. This equates to £10-£20 per square foot (per annum).
  • Toilets

Preferred:

  • Little or no internal finishings (e.g. hardwood floorings or carpets) we can mess up
  • Multiple rooms
  • Cycle storage out of space
  • Kitchen/sink.
  • Roof access

Ideally we want at least two rooms/areas - one carpeted for hacking, light electronics, and chilling out, and an uncarpeted room for wood/metalworking. If it is a large open space we can build internal rooms ourselves, but bear in mind this is surprisingly expensive (and will have to be done to Building Regs)! Most landlords will also require the space to be returned to its original state once we move out.

Location

  • Within zone 2
  • Close to tube station (ideally less than 0.5 miles)

Places to Look

Potential spaces

131-132 Shoreditch High Street

Rent
£15,014 pa (not sure for what size)
Size
floors: 1,109 sq, ft. - Basement | 427 sq. ft - Ground | 1,032 sq. ft. 1st-4th | 1,009 sq. ft. 5th
Tube
0.5 miles (Old Street)
Train
0.3 miles (Shoreditch High Street railway station)
Facilities
  • Passenger lift
  • Raised floors
  • Kitchen
  • Toilets
  • Air conditioning
  • Unfurnished
Notes
  • Could take multiple floors, i.e. basement and ground

Solexious 17:49, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

Shortlist

Cremer Business Centre

Rent
£990 - £1,610
Size
666 - 1305 sqft.
Tube
0.8 miles (Old Street)
Facilities
  • 24 hour access
  • 24 hour security
  • 3-phase power
  • Goods lift
  • On-site parking
  • Passenger lift
  • Recycling facilities
Notes
  • Satisfies all criteria aside from location and kitchen/sink area.
  • Looks to be suited to hackspace-type activities, there appears to be a stone floor in two of the photographed units.
  • Right next to (<1 minute walk) Hoxton London Overground station which connects to the tube at Whitechapel.

Viewing notes

We were shown around three spaces, each had its own access and toilet facilities.

The first space (the smallest at 1100 sqft.) had a concrete floor, a single toilet cubicle (separate from the wash basin though), and a very small room which could potentially be used for storage. The main area featured a basic kitchen area and electric heaters. One issue is that in the main section there are a set of curved walls making it difficult to use efficiently.

The second space (1305 sqft.) was large and spacious, but lacked flooring (appeared to be just the mess left by whatever adhesive the previous floor used). There were two decent toilet cubicles and a modern kitchen area, with reasonable flooring.

The third space was identical to the second, but with partitions that we thought would be very useful and had windows in them. Additionally it had a lowered ceiling with modern lighting and network run around the entire room (with a large network cabinet). This space did lack a kitchen area however.

What we can do with these spaces is basically unlimited, and from what the contact explained to us there will be very little we need to do when we move out - providing we leave it in a clean condition (i.e. partitions could stay up, flooring needn't be added or removed, etc.). Noise does also not seem to be an issue, apart from basic stuff like making sure heavy machinery isn't directly resting on the floor.

Robert 15:51, 27 May 2010 (UTC)

Not shortlisted

The Ivories

Rent
£560 - £1800
Size
297 - 1237 sqft.
Tube
0.5 miles (Highbury and Islington)
Facilities
  • 24 hour access
  • CCTV
  • Designated Centre Manager
  • On-site parking
  • Passenger lift
  • Recycling facilities
Notes
  • Satisfies all criteria aside from kitchen/sink area.
  • Right next to Essex Road National Rail station which connects to Highbury and Islington and Old Street.
  • Visited: sounds like they're noise-sensitive.

Robert 09:08, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

Leroy House

Rent
£800 - £1,920
Size
466 - 900 sqft.
Tube
0.8 miles (Highbury and Islington)
Facilities
  • 24 hour access
  • Evening & weekend security
  • Entry phone system
  • Broadband
  • On-site parking by arrangement
  • Passenger & goods lift
  • Recycling facilities
  • Cycle racks
Notes
  • Does not meet size hard-limit so is unsuitable.

Robert 09:09, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

Willow Street

Rent
£19,560 pa
Size
1565 sqft. (un-confirmed)
Tube
0.3 miles (Old Street)
Train
0.4 miles (Shoreditch High Street railway station)
Facilities
  • Goods lift
  • On-site parking (additional cost - unkown)
  • Large windows
Notes
* Not available any more

Solexious 14:46, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

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