FMP showcases new Arundel office complex

BUSINESS REPORTER

First Mutual Properties (FMP), a leading property investment, development, and management company in Zimbabwe, recently unveiled the Arundel Office Park new office complex to stakeholders, investors, potential tenants, and the journalists.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, the Managing Director of First Mutual Properties Christopher Manyowa said the construction of the state-of-the-art office building  was  a major step towards the company’s  goal  of providing modern, energy-efficient, and flexible office spaces in Zimbabwe.

 

“The building is at an advanced state of completion, with the 65kwh solar roof installation and battery backup fully functional and running essential loads. Building interiors are ready for tenants to select their preferred tiling options and optimise the space to their specific needs,” Manyowa said.

 

He added: “The building has been designed to be flexible and either utilised by a single tenant or cater to four tenants.”

Manyowa said the two-storey building, with a gross floor area of 2726 square metres, represents a transformative upgrade from the original office buildings designed 22 years ago.

The new structure reflects the latest trends in office design, ensuring efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability.

The building takes design cues from the nearby Arundel Office Park complex, creating a seamless transition to its more modern style. Large glass windows and a spectacular atrium on the first floor bring in natural light and provide a modern aesthetic.

FMP continues to optimise its property investments, balancing various financing sources and offloading properties that do not align with its vision for its portfolio going forward to finance projects that will provide lasting returns and build a high value portfolio.

This project, valued at over US$5.4m is the first step in a multi-year real estate investment plan by FMP for the 14-hectare Arundel Office Park Phase 2, which will include office blocks, two-bedroomed short stay apartments, restaurants, convenience stores and a hotel and conference centre, creating a self-contained oasis for corporate, development and diplomatic tenants.

Some of the main features in the new office block include North/South orientation facing Norfolk Road for maximum visibility, flexible floor plate designed to accommodate up to three tenants, large cantilevered canopy leading into a double-volume entrance foyer measuring 8.2 by 9 metres, features a 7-metre-long fountain and a high stone wall at the entrance, indigenous courtyard gardens on either side of the entrance, boardroom or breakout area with terraces on both sides, and fire escapes located outside  the building to maximise leasable space.

This Arundel Office Park new office block building has been designed and constructed with sustainability in mind therefore reducing resource use and waste and has LED lighting throughout.

 

It also has motion detectors for basement and bathroom lighting, efficient circuitry for back-up generators and photovoltaics, timers and sensors for common area lighting, natural lighting to all office areas, heat pump for water heating, performance glass to limit heat gain and loss, sun shading devices, and insulated roof slab for photovoltaics amongst other components.

The new office block is now open for tenants to view, customise fittings and secure their place in a premier business location, sustainably built and managed with essential backup power.

FMP,which is a member of the First Mutual Holdings Limited Group, ha a portfolio that includes 93 properties across Zimbabwe’s major towns and cities, with a total lettable area of 125,000 square metres.

The company also hold 643,100 square metres of undeveloped land for future expansion in strategic locations in Harare.

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