Final stages of refurbishment at city offices are given a big lift

Lift and escalator manufacturer Kone, is close to completing a nine-month, £325,000 contract to replace the entire lift running technology and computerised call system at Pinnacle Leeds on Albion Street.

The work by Chertsey-based Kone, which has a regional office in Keighley, is due to be completed by mid May.

It is the final part of a £6m upgrade of the tower which started two years ago after the property, formerly West Riding House, was acquired by Moorfield Group (Moorfield) on behalf of Moorfield Real Estate Fund II in 2011.

Robert Firth, director of Leeds-based asset management partner Holbeck Land, said: “Although the lifts are believed to be the fastest in Leeds, travelling at three-metres a second, they have been in use since the property was built as West Riding House 40 years ago and were in danger of becoming unreliable, which is the last thing we would wish for our tenants.”

Other work includes replacing the roof-based chillers to improve the air conditioning and refurbishment of the ground-floor entrance and all lift lobbies.

Seven floors of offices have been refurbished to create new open-plan 5,100 sq ft offices to let and the 10th floor has been divided to create two office suites of 3,500 sq ft and 1,300 sq ft with a communal kitchen. Pinnacle Privilege, a card scheme giving tenants discounts with nearby retailers, has also been introduced.

Mr Firth added: “While the majority of the initial refurbishment is complete, we have many exciting developments in the pipeline, including the refurbishment of floors eight and 15 later this year, while a significant new leisure letting will be announced in the next few weeks.”

Office occupiers include Barnett Waddingham, Steer Davies & Gleave, RDR, FRP Advisory Optimisa Research and HM Courts & Tribunal Service.

Retailers include Joy, Superdrug, Moss Bross, Next, Tesco Express and Pret a Manger

DTZ and Colliers International are joint letting agents.