PLP Architecture designed Kaleidoscope. (Helical)
Chinese Social Media Phenomenon Taking All of Above Farringdon East Crossrail Station Offices
By Paul Norman
CoStar News
March 5, 2021 | 12:28 P.M.
Helical has completed its letting to Chinese social media phenomenon TikTok Information Technologies UK of the whole of Kaleidoscope, its 88,500-sq-ft office building above the Farringdon East Crossrail Station.
The lease is for a 15-year term with a tenant option to break at year 10, and an undisclosed market rent-free period has been granted. PLP Architecture designed the building.
Comprising ground and five upper floors, Kaleidoscope was the first over station development to complete on the Crossrail Line. The property offers a 5,000-sq-ft roof terrace with views across London, while also sitting adjacent to the green space of Charterhouse Square, and utilises the Citigen District Network for its heating and cooling, delivering low-carbon energy.
Farringdon sits at the heart of London’s “Culture Mile”, an area that is being redeveloped into an arts and cultural hub that is setting out to celebrate the City of London’s future and history.
Matthew Bonning-Snook, property director at Helical, said in a statement: “We set out to deliver an architecturally striking and characterful building that would suit the fast growing creative and tech companies that are attracted to this highly accessible location. Kaleidoscope offers this together with excellent tenant amenities including a spectacular roof terrace and strong environmental credentials, thereby clearly responding to today’s requirements for wellness and sustainability. As a platform for billions of creators worldwide, TikTok is a perfect business for both the building and the area’s ambition to be a destination for culture and creativity.”
JLL and Pilcher London acted for Helical.