Work to extend the Fred. Olsen House in Ipswich, Suffolk, to create one central headquarters for staff at Fred. Olsen Ltd, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Travel has reached a key phase, with representatives from all three companies, plus Huntingdon-based Artisan (UK) Developments Ltd, celebrating with a topping out ceremony on October 28.
“Having personally been involved with the preparation and planning of this project since its inception nearly three years ago, I am delighted to see the office extension finally taking shape. The extension will more than double the space at Fred. Olsen House,” said Belinda Mindell, chief financial officer of Fred. Olsen Ltd.
The extension is set for completion next year and will more than double the size of the existing Fred. Olsen House, increasing the building size from 14,000 sq ft to 32,000 sq ft.
The extension will be a three-storey building, incorporating open-plan office space, breakout areas and meeting rooms. Refurbishment of the existing Fred. Olsen House will commence thereafter, with final completion of the extended HQ by the end of 2020.
“Artisan had approached Fred. Olsen on a number of occasions about the potential to rationalise their different locations in Ipswich into a single, combined HQ… In October 2016, those discussions started to come to fruition and, by working together over the next two years, an agreement was reached that delivered the best possible outcome for both companies,” said Michael Eyres, managing director of Artisan (UK) Developments Ltd.
To celebrate the “topping out” of Fred. Olsen’s new extension, Elmer’s Travel Trunk – the Elmer the Elephant sculpture that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines purchased recently from Ipswich’s St Elizabeth Hospice, as part of Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk – made a star appearance at the ceremony.
