Baltic Place, Gateshead

When Robertson originally developed Baltic Place in 2008, the team took the opportunity to respond to a lack of Grade A, open-plan office space available at a competitive rate in the Newcastle market.

The challenge was to create a high-quality office building, with iconic status, that would break traditional occupier resistance to moving across the Tyne from Newcastle city centre.

The result was 131,000 square feet of Grade A office space for Tyneside, comprising two eleven-storey tower blocks linked by a shared entrance foyer and underground car park with 100 spaces.

Baltic Place was developed to be an iconic building in the Gateshead Quays regeneration area.

It was undertaken speculatively as a joint venture between Robertson Property and City & Northern with the space to be let by agents DTZ and GVA Grimley in Newcastle and Jones Lang LaSalle in London.

The original brief called for an understanding of the economics of the North East and aimed to act as a commercial driver for sustainable growth.

Baltic Place sits alongside three of the most recognisable structures in the Gateshead Quays regeneration area: the The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Baltic Arts Centre.

The designers, Newcastle architectural firm Space Group, took steps to ensure that the towers work in harmony with the contemporary surroundings of the regenerated Gateshead Quayside area. The building's curved edges, glass fascias and slender structures offer businesses a 21st century identity.

Internally, it is designed so that space can be readily sub-divided, and is suitable for a variety of tenants, uses and layouts. The design includes several elements that are attractive to occupiers. Floorplates provide a flexible working environment and are bright and airy with exceptional views along the Tyne over the Millennium Bridge to the Tyne Bridge and over the Newcastle city centre skyline.

All floors have air-conditioning and high-quality finishes as well as comfortable seating areas in the large reception area, a cafe and a landscaped external area.

Architecturally, full-height curtain walling gives the two building elements a distinctive appearance and, when illuminated at night, creates a true landmark on the waterfront.

The flexibility of the floor plans has reaped benefits, allowing floors to be split into more compact units in response to enquiries from small and medium sized companies.

Baltic Place achieved a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating for environmental performance.